Wild Prairie Rose
(Rosa blanda or Rosa arkansana)
Adopted in 1907.
The Wild Prairie Rose, Rosa blanda
or Rosa arkansana, The flower has
been identified as Rosa Pratincola in
species. The flower sports five bright
pink petals with a tight cluster of
yellow stamens in the center.
The Wild Prairie Rose grows along roadsides, in pastures, and in native
meadows.
Wild roses are found throughout the
state and bloom from June through late
summer. The flower, in varying shades of
pink, is set off by many yellow stamens
in the center.
- Shrub with erect stems to
1.5 ft (45 cm) tall.
- Twigs red-brown with many
straight spines and bristles.
- Leaves alternate,
pinnately compound, 5-9 leaflets;
leaflets elliptic, 1.6-6.4 cm
(0.6-2.5) inches in length;
glabrous, lustrous above, soft
pubescent beneath; acute at base and
apex; margins coarsely toothed;
petiole glabrous or somewhat
pubescent; stipules adnate, 1-2.5 cm
(0.4-1 in) in length, margins
entire; rachis glabrous or somewhat
pubescent.
- Inflorescence a corymb,
peduncles glabrous, flowers 2-4,
2.5-5 cm (1-2 in) in diameter;
sepals 5, lanceolate, 1-1.2 cm
(3/8-5/8 in) long; petals 5, white,
obcordate; styles not exserted, but
persistent; stamens numerous;
flowers appear from May to August.
- Fruit a hip, 12-15 mm
(1/2-3/5 in) diameter, subglobose to
ellipsoid, sepals ascending, red;
nutlets flattened on one side, light
tan, tuft of hairs at the base;
fruits mature late August.
- Habitat: prairies,
woodland margin and disturbed areas.
- Medicinal uses: The
Omahas steeped wild prairie rose
hips and roots to treat inflammation
of the eye. The Pawnees collected
leaf galls which were crushed and
applied to burns.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
|
| Kingdom |
Plantae -- Plants |
| Subkingdom |
Tracheobionta --
Vascular plants |
| Superdivision |
Spermatophyta -- Seed
plants |
| Division |
Magnoliophyta --
Flowering plants |
| Class |
Magnoliopsida --
Dicotyledons |
| Subclass |
Rosidae – |
| Order |
Rosales – |
| Family |
Rosaceae – Rose family |
| Genus |
Rosa L. – rose |
| Species |
Rosa arkansana Porter –
prairie rose
Rosa blanda Ait. – smooth
rose |
|
Official North Dakota State Flower