Rosa gymnocarpa

Baldhip rose

Rosaceae

The Basics

Taxonomy: 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). Genus - Rosa L. Species - Rosa gymnocarpa Nutt.

Ecology: Baldhip rose is shade tolerant; it persists from the initial plant community to climax. It flourishes initially with thinning and opening of the canopy, but then slows in growth. Baldhip rose grows in full sunlight but has a higher overall survival rate in the shade. Baldhip rose occurs predominantly in the low-shrub layer of moist, shaded forests of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. It is generally found at elevations of 1,500 m or less. It is well adapted to mesic-coniferous understories and grows best on eastern and southern exposures. It is found in both mountainous and riparian areas. Baldhip rose is adapted to a variety of moisture conditions but fares better on slightly dry sites. It is adapted to a short growing season.

In the WFDP: Baldhip rose is abundant at small sizes in the WFDP, but larger shrubs are rare; only one stem reaches 1 cm at DBH that is tagged.

Identification

Habit: Loose shrub. Stem: prickles few to many, generally not paired, 2--8 mm, +- slender, straight. Leaf: axis generally glabrous +- glandular; leaflets glabrous; terminal leaflet margins +- double-toothed, glandular. Flower: hypanthium 1.5--2 mm wide at flower, glabrous and glandless, neck +- 1.5 mm wide; sepals glandular or not, entire, tip generally less than body, entire; petals +- 10 mm, pink to red; pistils 5--10. Fruit: 4--12 mm wide, ellipsoid to +- spheric; sepals erect to reflexed, evenly deciduous; achenes (3)4--7 mm.

Threats

Fire effects: Aboveground portions of the plant are killed by fire. Root crowns and underground rhizomes typically survive low- to moderate-severity fires. Severe fires can cause damage to root crowns, decreasing potential regrowth. Baldhip rose rapidly recovers following low- to medium-severity fires. Top-killed plants typically sprout vigorously from the root crown or rhizomes. Seedlings are rarely observed in a burn area.

Reproduction

Seed production and dispersal: Baldhip rose attains sexual maturity at 3 to 5 years. The primary insect pollinators of roses are pollen-gathering bees. The open-faced flowers of native roses are more attractive to pollinators than ornamental varieties with double flowers. The seeds are eaten and dispersed by birds and mammals.

Vegetative Reproduction: Baldhip rose sprouts from the root crown and rhizomes.

Species Distribution

Citation

USDA Plants Database
USDA, NRCS. 2016. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

USFS Plant Database
Habeck, R. J. 1992. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.

Flora of North America
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 19+ vols. New York and Oxford.

The Jepson Herbarium
The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California. B.G. Baldwin, D.H. Goldman, D.J. Keil, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilken [editors]. 2012. 2nd edition, thoroughly revised and expanded. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. $131.95, hardcover; 1600 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0520253124.

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Burke Museum. 2016 [Online]. University of Washington.