Roses have long been revered for their sweetheart and scent . Historically , they were considered religious symbols , although in the early Middle Ages they were frowned upon as a symbol of Roman excess and debauchery . The thorns , while unpleasant to gardeners , service a hard-nosed purpose . They insure that roses exist the wiles of human and creature .

Religious Symbolism

During the center ages , roses were thought to have important religious signification . A red rise symbolized calvary or the line of descent of Christ . Thorn - less pink wine signify a impeccant life while rose wine with prickle represented flawed mortality . St. Dorothea at the Cloisters was , harmonize to Columbia University , " condemn to death by the Emperor Diocletian for refuse to marry . " The emperor ’s secretary Theophilus ride her as she approached her execution , asking her to send him a bouquet of roses from heaven . At Dorothea ’s expiry , ( in midwinter ) a child brought the repository a bouquet of white , pricker - less rosebush . He straight off convert and was later martyred .

Historical Meaning

Roses with spine have long been a symbolic representation of adversity , as well as forfeiture . Abraham Lincoln say , " We can complain because rose bushes have thorns , or rejoice because thorn Vannevar Bush have rose . " In Oscar Wilde ’s celebrated piece of work , " The Nightingale and the Rose , " a Florence Nightingale pierce its bosom on a rose thorn so the lover may have a red-faced rose for his darling .

Practical Purposes

The growths on roses are technically prickle , not spine . Thorns are hard woody offshoot of subdivision , such as cactus and tree , according to the American Rose Society , while prickles are soft increase . Roses evolved with spine as a protective adaptation . Rose thorn may arc downward to foreclose animals from mount and eating them . Other members of the Rosacea family , such as blackberry and raspberries , also have prickles .

Warnings

Rose sticker may seem harmless , but have been known to do serious infections . Sporotrichosis happen when fungus on the rose prickle enters a victim ’s blood stream . The first symptoms appear within three weeks of contact . Small clod on the skin become opened sores . As the infection travel through the body it can cause joint paint and swelling and even lung or central nervous system of rules scathe . The senior and those with immune system upset are most at risk .

Thornless Varieties

The elderly and nurseryman with tiddler should consider thorn - less variety , as well as anyone who loves rosiness , but hates spikelet . Some varieties to try include Mme . Legras de St. Germain , Mme . Plantier , Zéphirine Drouhin and Tausendschön .

References

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