ROSE FAMILY: ROSACEAE – Diagnostic characters , floral diagram & formula , economic importance , pattern of distribution and common species

Diagnostic Characters of Rosaceae:-

1. Habit

Perennial (seasonal) herbs, shrubs (bushes) and trees (woody plants)

2. Roots

Fibrous tap (produced by seed)  root, Fibrous adventitious (produced by cutting) root.

3. Stem

The stem is covered with thorn, spikes or prickles کانٹے, and the stem is Herbaceous (solid) or woody.

4. Leaves

Leaves are reticulate, simple or compound, pinnate type, petiolate, alternate, stipulate.

5. Inflorescence

Inflorescence of rosa indica is mostly cymose or racemose, some are solitary (single flower).

6. Flower

Hermaphrodite (male and female both sexes are present in the same organisms), actinomorphic (we can cut from any axis), complete, regular, pedicellate,  bracteate, perigynous,  or sometimes epigynous.

7. Calyx (Sepals)

4 or 5 calyx or sepals, free, epicalyx of bracteoles are present.

8. Corolla (Petals)

5 or multiple of 5 petals, free

9. Androecium (Stamens)

Unlimited or numerous Androceium, versatile, free, sometimes linked by their filaments.

10. Gynasium (Pistel) (carpel)

1 to numerous gynasium.

11. Fruits

Pome, drupe or an etaerio of drupes or achenes follicles.

12. Seed

Non~endospermic seed.

Floral Formula of rosa indica

Economic importance of Rosaceae 🌹

Rosaceae 🌹 has great economic importance for mankind. It is economically very important in the cold zone. For commercial importance,  Rosaceae 🌹 is ranked thirdin the flowering families in cold region.

1. Wood

The wood of Pyrus pastia is used for making tobacco pipes.

The branches of Crataegus are used as walking sticks and wood.

2. Ornamental plants

They are grown in houses 🏡 and gardens for their scented and beautiful flowers. The genus Rosa Indica 🌹 is widely grown for beautifying purposes. Its cultivated names are in thousands. A large number of plants of this family are cultivated for ornamental purposes. Many other genera of this family are cultivated in parks, gardens,  and houses for beautiful flowers.


Many sweet fruits are obtained from the plants of this family.  Some important fruits are Apple 🍎 , Pear🍐 , Almond, Peach 🍑, Strawberry, and Apricot.

4. Medicinal and commercial uses of petals of Rosaceae 🌹

In many Asian countries, the petals of common roses  🌹 are called Gulabs like in Pakistan 🇵🇰. The Gulabs have the following uses :

1. Ark-Gulab

Ark-Gulabs is obtained from petals of the rose by distillation with water 💧 . It has many important uses.  Commonly it is used for curing eye 👀 diseases.

2. Rose Oil

Rose oil is extracted from the petals of the rose. It is used for scented purposes specially in perfumes.

3. Gulkand

The petals of Rosa Indica 🌹 is used for making gulkand.

Pattern of distribution

This family is distributed all over the World.

In Pakistan 🇵🇰, about 29 genera and 213 species are present.

This family has about 100 genera and 2000 species.

Common species

  • Fragaria Vesca 🍓

  • Pyrus Malus 🍎

  • Prunus Persica🍑

  • Rosa Indica 🌹

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