Ripening Time of Wild Rosa roxburghii and the Effects and Functions of Rosa roxburghii Tree Roots

Wild Rosa roxburghii, a deciduous shrub plant of the Rosaceae family, also known as silkworm-reeling flower, thorn mushroom, mountain thorn pear, etc., has extremely high nutritional and medicinal value, and the vitamin C content in its flesh ranks first among all kinds of fruits. So, when does wild Rosa roxburghii ripen? What are the effects and functions of Rosa roxburghii tree roots?

I. When does wild Rosa roxburghii ripen?

Wild Rosa roxburghii generally ripens in July and August. The flowers of Rosa roxburghii are complete flowers. Buds appear from March to April, flowering begins from late April to early May, and the flowering period lasts about 1 month. A few branch tips still have scattered flowers blooming after June. The flowering period of Rosa roxburghii is not concentrated, which is related to the flower bud differentiation characteristics of Rosa roxburghii. This characteristic causes the ripening period of some fruits to be delayed, which is not conducive to uniform harvesting of the fruits.

II. Effects and Functions of Rosa roxburghii Tree Roots

[Trait Identification] The root and rhizome are cylindrical, 15-30-50cm long, 0.5-2cm in diameter or thicker. The surface is brown, with fine longitudinal striations and lateral root scars, and a few residual fine fibrous roots. The bark is thin and easy to peel off; where the bark has fallen off, the surface is brownish red. The texture is hard and not easy to break; the cross section is fibrous, and the xylem shows radial striations of light reddish brown interspersed with yellowish white. The odor is slight and the taste is astringent.

[Microscopic Identification] Transverse section of rhizome: several rows of cork cells, with rhytidome on the outer side; in some places 1-2 rows of phellogen and several rows of phelloderm cells are visible, within which single fibers or several fibers in bundles are scattered. Open collateral vascular bundles are arranged in a ring; the phloem fiber bundles are arranged in interrupted 1-2 layers, lignified or slightly lignified, and some fiber sheath parenchyma cells contain calcium oxalate prismatic crystals. Xylem vessels are mostly scattered singly, surrounded by wood fibers, with lignified walls. Ray cells are subquadrate or rectangular, 5-11-16 rows, and some cells have obvious pits. Annual rings are clearly visible. Pith cell walls are lignified.

Powder characteristics: brownish yellow. 1. Phloem fibers in bundles or scattered singly, with narrow lumina, 20-25μm in diameter, with pits. 2. Crystal sheath fibers with rectangular or polygonal crystals. 3. Wood fibers about 18μm in diameter, with narrow lumina. 4. Vessels mostly reticulate, 50-80μm in diameter. 5. Calcium oxalate crystals square, short columnar, or irregular.

[Chemical Composition] Both the root and stem contain tannins. The root bark produced in Sichuan contains 19.75% tannins. It also contains vitamin B2, 4%; vitamin P, 2.8%.

[Nature and Flavor] Sweet and sour; neutral; non-toxic

[Meridian Tropism] Spleen; stomach; liver; kidney meridians

[Functions and Indications] Strengthens the stomach and promotes digestion, relieves pain, astringes, and stops bleeding. Mainly treats distention and pain in the epigastric region, toothache, sore throat, chronic cough, diarrhea and dysentery, spermatorrhea, leukorrhea, uterine bleeding, and hemorrhoids.