Rosaceae- An Introduction

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Rosaceae



Rosaceae  is a family of approximately 100 genera and 3000 species which are cosmopolitan in distribution but particularly abundant in Eastern Asia, North America and Europe. About 25 genera and 230 species of Rosaceae have so far been reported from India. 
Some selected Indian genera are- 
    • Rosa, 
    • Pyrus, 
    • Potentilla, 
    • Eriobotrya, 
    • Prunus, 
    • Rubus and 
    • Spiraea. 
Named after universally famous flowering plant, rose, the Rosaceae show great diversity in types of fruit.




ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Edible fruits:

Pyrus



                                                                                                                

 Variety of delicious fruits belong to Rosaceae. Some of them include-
    • Almond or Badam (Pyrus amygdalus),
    • Alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca),
    • Apple (Pyrus malus),
    • Apricot or khubani (Prunus armeniaca),
    • Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus),
    • Blackcherry (Rubus molucannus),
    • Ceylon raspberry (Rubus laciocarpus),
    • Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus),
    • Chinese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia),
    • Dewberry (Rubus caesius),
    • Japanese plum (Prunus saticina),
    • Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica),
    • Peach (Prunus persica),
    • Pear (Pyrus communis),
    • Plum (Prunus domestica sub. sp. instita),
    • Quince (Cydonia oblonga),
    • Raspberry (Rubus idaeus),
    • Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia),
    • Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus),
    • Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis and F. vesca),
    • Sweet cherry (Prunus avium),
    • Wild Himalayan cherry (Prunus cerasoides) and
    • Yellow Himalayan raspberry (Rubus ellipticus).
Ornamental Plants: 
 


 

Rose the best ornamental plant of the world is represented by its innumerable varieties. 
Some commonly grown species of Rosa include- 
    • R. alba, 
    • R. banksiae, 
    • R. centifolia, 
    • R. chinensis, 
    • R. damascena, 
    • R. indica and 
    • R. moschata. 
Some other garden ornamentals of Rosaceae are: 
    • Acioa guianensis, 
    • Crataegus mollis, 
    • Exochorda racemosa and 
    • Several species of Physocarpus, 
    • Potentilla, 
    • Sorbus and 
    • Spiraea.

Medicines and perfumes:
    1. 'Gulkand' prepared from Rose petals is a good tonic, laxative as well as useful in tonsilitis;
    2. Root stocks of Geum urbanum are used in diarrhoea and chronic dysentery;
    3. Female flowers of Hagenia abyssinica are the source of anthelmintic drug, cusso;
    4. Decoction of leaves of Potentilla anserina is used against arthritis and kidney stones;
    5. Dried bark of Pyrus pyrifolia is useful in cough and cold;
    6. Valuable perfume is obtained from the petals of Rosa damascena and other rose species.
Bark and wood:
Bark of soaptree Quillaja saponaria is powdered and used in shampoos and hair tonics, while walking sticks and tool handles are prepared from the wood of Docynia indica, Prunus cerasoides, Pyrus pasha and P. communis.








 


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