“Rosa californica”
by Doreen Smith
Rosa californica is the most common wild rose in Marin and probably in California, but many old so-called occurrences
have been found by recent taxonomic experts to be other species or hybrids.
The shrubs have pink flowers and, when fruiting, red “hips,” which are commonly thought of as the fruits. Botanically speaking, however, the real fruits are hairy and seed-like, and they are contained in the urn-like fleshy red structures.