swamp Rosa palustris Kingdom: Plantae FEATURES Division: Magnoliophyta Swamp rose is a perennial that has branched Class: Magnoliopsida stems with curved spines. Each spine may be one- Order: fourth inch long. The are in an alternate arrangement on the stem. The pinnately compound Family: leaves each have seven leaflets. The toothed, hairy ILLINOIS STATUS leaflets are elliptical and up to one and one-half inches in length. Pale pink flowers are borne solitary common, nonnative or in small clusters. Each five-petaled flower may be two and one-half inches wide. The fruit is red and fleshy, up to three-fourths inch in diameter and containing seeds. Swamp rose may attain a height of one to seven feet.

BEHAVIORS Swamp rose may be found statewide in Illinois. It grows in wet forests, thickets, swamps and bogs. Flowers are produced from June through August. Insects are the main agent of pollination. The birds and mammals that eat the fruit pass the undigested seeds out with their wastes, thereby dispersing this species. The fruits, stems, leaves and buds of this plant are used as a food source by wildlife.

ILLINOIS RANGE

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. plant, leaves and fruits

Aquatic Habitats bottomland forests; peatlands; swamps

Woodland Habitats bottomland forests; southern Illinois lowlands

Prairie and Edge Habitats edge; gravel prairie; shrub prairie

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources.