Rose Family

The Rose Family

Rose Family - Rosaceae

Apricot Prunus armeniaca

Native from Central Asia to China but long cultivated elsewhere and now widespread in Europe, the Mediterranean and western Asia, as well as suitable regions of North America and Australia.


Flower	Leaves	Leaf

Young fruit	Young bark	Old bark

Almond Prunus amygdalus

(Prunus dulcis) Native to the transcaucasus region, but introduced and very widely cultivated throughout southern Europe, North-west Africa and western Asia, as well as in North America.


Habit	Flowers	Leaves	Leaf

Fruit	Winter twig	Young bark	Old bark

Webb's Almond Prunus webbii

Native through the Mediterranean Region, being most frequent in southern Greece and Crete. A spiny shrub.


Habit	Flowers	Flower	Leaves

Leaf	Young fruit	Thorn	Bud

Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera

Native from the Balkans eastward to Central Asia and the Himalayan Region. Flowers February to early April, carried singly or two to three together on medium-length stalks (5-15mm) and opening with the first leaves. Sepals recurved when the flowers are mature. A bush when pruned as a hedge but plants will naturally form a small tree, to around eight metres in height. Winter stems green and hairless, although often turning reddish-purple on the upper side when exposed to sun. Fruits 20-30mm across, yellow or dark red, rounded and with a rounded stone, without a pale bloom. Plants are often biannual fruiters, only producing fruit in any quantity every other year.


Habit	Flowers	Reflexed sepals	Leaves

Fruit	Winter stem and bud	Bark

Blackthorn Prunus spinosus

Native throughout Europe to Central Asia and North-west Africa. Flowers April to early May, carried singly or in pairs on short stalks (3-4mm) and appearing on bare stems before the leaves open. Sepals rather narrow and flattened against the underside of the petals. A spreading bush to five metres tall with spines on vigorous suckers and older stems. Winter stems dark purple-brown, often with a greysh cast; lightly covered with short hairs. Fruits 9-18mm across, dark bluish-black with a pale bloom or pruinescence, rounded and with a rounded stone.


Habit	Flowers	Flower	Leaves

Leaves	Fruits	Young twig	Winter stem and bud

Prostrate Cherry Prunus prostrata

Native in the rocky hills of the Mediterranean Region to eastern Turkey.


Habit	Habit	Flower	Leaves

European Wild Cherry Prunus avium

Native throughout most of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to Afghanistan. Flowers April to early May, carried two to six together on long stalks (20-50mm). In woodland, can form a large tree, to 30 metres in height. Fruits are small cherries with a rounded stone, turning bright red then blackish. Leaves coarsely and irregularly toothed on the margin. The bark of mature trees has well-defined, horizontal ridges.


Flowers	Flowers	Double-flowered form	Leaf (left) with leaf of Sour Cherry (right)

Leaf margin	Fruits	Winter buds	Bark

Common Quince Cydonia oblonga

Introduced from South-west Asia for its edible fruits and often cultivated. Flowers April to May. A rounded, shrubby tree to around 8m in height. With broadly rounded leaves and relatively large flowers. Fruits yellowish, flattened at the base.


Habit	Flower	Flower bud	Leaf

Fruit	Winter twig	Bark	Bark

Almond-leaved Pear Pyrus spinosa

Native through the European Mediterranean Region to Turkey. Leaf blade usually 20-50mm long, 2-4 times as long as wide; undersides densely downy at first but becoming smooth with age.


Habit	Habit	Flowers	Flowers

Flower buds	Leaves	Leaves

Loquat Rhaphiolepis bibas

(Eriobotrya japonica) Native to central China but long cultivated in Asia and more recently in the Mediterranean Region and other parts of the world.


Habit	Flowers	Flowers	Flower

Leaf	Leaf	Fruit	Fruit

Common Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna

Native throughout most of Europe and the Mediterranean Basin to the Middle East and the Urals. Flowers April to May, each flower with the central stigma carried on a single style. Flowers white, but often turning light pink as they fade. Leaves typically deeply lobed with no teeth on the lower margin.


Flowers	Flowers	Double flowers	Single style

Leaves	Leaves	Winter twig	Winter buds

East Mediterranean Bramble Rubus creticus

(Rubus sanctus) Native mostly in the eastern Mediterranean Region and scattered eastwards into Asia. Common on field margins, roadsides and rough ground.


Flower	Flower	Leaf upperside	Leaf underside

Stem	Fruit

Evergreen Rose Rosa sempervirens

Native in the Mediterranean Region from Portugal to Turkey and in North-west Africa. A vigorous species that rambles through and over other trees and shrubs.


Flowers	Flower	Glandular hairs on calyx	Leaves

Leaf	Stem	Fruit	Fruit

Common Dog Rose Rosa canina

Native throughout Europe, the Mediterranean basin and western Asia. Flowers May to July. A very variable species in most of its features. Flowers very variable, pink or white. Stem prickles broad-based and usually curved. All parts without glandular hairs and usually only a few non-glandular hairs on the leaves.


Habit	Flower	Flower	Flowers with short style

Leaf	Leaf underside	Fruits	Winter stem

Small-leaved Sweet-briar Rosa agrestis

Native throughout most of Europe to the Caucasus and North-west Africa. Flowers June to July, 2-4cm across. A typical Sweet-briar with apple-scented foliage and strongly reflexed sepals. Flower and fruit stalks without glandular hairs, leaflets rather narrow.


Flower	Leaf	Leaf and young fruit

Spiny Burnet Sarcopoterium spinosum

Native to the Mediterranean Region from Sardinia and Italy eastwards. Along with Spiny Knapweed, this species is a very common component of frigana in exposed, coastal areas and on the barren slopes of the west side of the island.


Habit	Male flowers	Male flowers	Female flowers

Leaf	Leaf	Leaf	Old stems

Flora of Lesvos An Identification Guide

The Rose Family

Rose Family - Rosaceae

Species List

Flora of Lesvos
An Identification Guide