Roses: Fruits

Rose-hips or haws, the fruit of the rose, have been eaten as a fruit in Europe and Asia and by the Indians of N. America. The vaselike receptacle of the fruit contains seeds covered with irritating hairs, so it has to be emptied before it is edible. Or the whole fruit can be boiled to make a sweet, slightly perfumed syrup. Species whose fruits are used both in Europe and Asia include the briar rose or dog rose, R. canina, which is made into tea or tisane, and the eglantine, R. eglanteria.