The rose has been a popular flower all over the world throughout history and has come to symbolize everything from purity and love to friendship. Even Shakespeare was so captivated by it that he included it in Romeo and Juliet! We all know what roses are but do we know what makes them tick? Let’s take a look into the rose’s anatomy, shall we?
The rose begins life as a seed (as do most plants) that was once inside a rose hip. When it germinates, it grows roots that eventually branch out into two types: anchor roots and hair roots. Anchor roots have two functions: to hold the rose bush in the ground and to store the plant nutrients. Hair roots are thinner and their purpose is to absorb nutrients from the soil. In a fully grown rose bush, the root system is as big as the entire bush!
From the roots, the main trunk of the bush grows above ground. These woody trunks are referred to as canes and the rose bush may have more than one trunk. The trunk’s purpose is to transport food and water up to the leaves and flowers as well as deliver photosynthesis energy down to the roots for storage. From the trunk grow the stems. These are the sections of the plant that grow the thorns for protection against pests and people! Just like the trunk, they are a transport system for the plant nutrients.
The leaves grow from the stem and are a green to deep green color. They normally grow in groups of five and are recognizable by their serrated edge. The leaves are where the photosynthesis party takes place. They convert the sun’s rays into the plants’ energy and send it down to the roots via the stem and trunk highway.
The flowers are the beautiful part that drives everybody wild. They come in many different colors, but their main purpose it to propagate the plant. Flowers have both male (stamens) and female (pistils) parts. Reproduction takes place through pollination within the flower. Outside forces such as wind, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc. help the flower reproduce. Once there’s a successful pollination, ovary forms called a rose hip that protects the new seeds inside. When the flower dies, it drops to the floor and breaks open, spreading the seeds on the ground to germinate.
That is the amazing anatomy of a rose.
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