Abstract: | This present paper comprises a research on the biology and importance of a well-known species, namely the rosehip (Rosa canina L.). All the experimental data may represent a starting point for its medicinal and phytotherapeutical research. The rosehip is a perennial shrub. The fruit colour ranges from red to orange. The rosehips contain large amounts of vitamins (mainly C vitamin) (Egea I. et al, 2010), minerals, fatty acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, sugars, aminoacids, and essential oils. Their therapeutic properties are: fortifying, tonic, facilitate the peripheral blood circulation through capillary blood vessels, stimulate bile secretion, soothen liver damage, stomach aches, intestinal inflammation, prevent kidney stones, ameliorate cough and hoarse voice. There were studied nine genotypes of Rosa canina L., belonging to five native populations from Bacău county. The rosehips were harvested and observed (200 fruit/each GPS location). A rather large variability was noticed in our survey on rosehip fruit, regarding fruit number/plant, fruit shape and size, as well as colour range (dark red to orange). Based on the turnover of the investigated five plant populations, the highest score was provided by population number 3 (from Racova village). This population lies in the Bistrița river’s major river bed and meadow. The microclimate is nevertheless more favourable, compared to the other populations’ we observed. Further studies on other rosehip populations will complete our research. |
