Thicket/ Swamp Rose

COMMON NAME: Swamp Rose

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rosa palustris

FAMILY: Rosaceae

COMMUNITY: Thicket

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: to 6 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Early June to late July

FRUITING TIME: September to October

DISTRIBUTION: Nova Scotia to Gulf of Mexico ~ Statewide in NJ outside the Pine Barrens

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Stalks and stems have prickles ~ Leaves odd-pinnate, elliptical and finely toothed ~ Flower had 5 pedals ~ Fruit (rose hip) round red ~ Rich fragrance

GENERAL INFORMATION: Roses with their bitter-sweet paradox of sharp prickles and delicate blooms has many romantic associations.  Plants in the Rosaceae family are among the oldest flowers in cultivation and have been mentioned in poetic works since the dawn of civilization.  Every mythological belief assigned the rose as the symbolic emblem of beauty, youth and love. The white rose became the symbol of charm and innocence and the red rose of love and desire.  In Greek mythology when Eros gave the rose to Harpocrates, the deity of silence, to induce him to conceal the weaknesses of the gods, the rose became the emblem of silence and secrecy.  In ancient times a rose was attached to the ceiling of council chambers as an indication that everybody present was sworn to secrecy, sub rosa--under the rose.  The rosette sometimes decorating the center of the ceiling of our rooms today is a use of this ancient symbol of secrecy. The rose became a prominent heraldic flower since the War of the Roses.  The Houses of Lancaster and York adopted red and white roses as emblems, respectively.  When the war ended, establishing the House of Tudor on the English throne, the Rose of Tudor became the emblem of England and remains so today.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purpose.