| Rosa× damascena | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Rosa |
| Species: | R. × damascena |
| Binomial name | |
| Rosa× damascena | |
Rosa ×damascena (Latin fordamascene rose), more commonly known as theDamask rose,[1][2] or sometimes as theIranian Rose,Bulgarian rose,Taif rose,Emirati rose,Ispahan rose, andCastile rose, is arosehybrid derived fromRosa gallica andRosa moschata.[3] DNA analysis has shown that a third species,Rosa fedtschenkoana, made some genetic contributions to the Damask rose.[4]
The flowers are renowned for their fine fragrance and are commercially harvested forrose oil (either "rose otto" or "rose absolute") used inperfumery and to makerose water and "rose concrete". The flower petals are also edible. They are used to flavor food, as a garnish, as anherbal tea, and preserved in sugar asgulkand. The Damask rose is the national flower ofIran.[5]
In 2019, the Damask rose was added to theUNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists as an element ofSyrian cultural heritage.[1]
The Damask rose is adeciduousshrub growing to 2.2 metres (7 ft 3 in) tall, the stems densely armed with stout, curved prickles and stiff bristles. Theleaves are pinnate, with five (rarely seven) leaflets. The roses are a light to moderate pink to light red. The relatively small flowers grow in groups. The bush has an informal shape. It is considered an important type ofOld Rose, and also important for its prominent place in the pedigree of many other types.
The hybrid is divided in two varieties:[3]
The hybridRosa ×centifolia is derived in part fromRosa ×damascena, as are Bourbon, Portland and hybrid perpetual roses.
The cultivar known asRosa gallica formatrigintipetala orRosa damascena 'Trigintipetala' is considered to be a synonym ofRosa ×damascena.[6]
'Celsiana' is a flowering semi-double variety.
Rosa ×damascena is a cultivated flower not found in the wild. Recent genetic tests indicate that it is a hybrid ofR. moschata xR. gallica crossed with the pollen ofRosa fedtschenkoana, which indicates a probable origin in the foothills ofcentral Asia[7] or Iran.[8]
The FrenchCrusaderRobert de Brie, who took part in theSiege of Damascus in 1148 at theSecond Crusade, is sometimes credited for bringing the Damask rose fromSyria toEurope.[9] The rose's name refers to the city ofDamascus,Syria, known for its steel (Damascus steel), fabrics (Damask), and roses.
Other accounts say that theancient Romans brought it to their colonies inEngland or that a physician ofKing Henry VIII,Thomas Linacre, gave him one circa 1540.[10] The latter claim is dubious because Linacre died in 1524, 16 years before the rose's introduction to the royal garden.
There is a history of fragrance production inKabul Province ofAfghanistan from the Damask rose.[11] An attempt has been made to restore this industry as an alternative for farmers who produceopium.[11]
The flower, known inHawaiian asLokelani, is the official flower of theIsland of Maui.[12]
The Bengali writerNirad Chaudhuri recalls that Hindus in East Bengal did not cultivate it because it was "looked upon as an Islamic flower".[13]
Rosa ×damascena is optimally cultivated in hedgerows to help protect the blooms from wind damage and facilitate harvesting. In Bulgaria, damask roses are grown in long hedges, while in Turkey, individual plants are spaced apart along trenches.[14] Gathering the flowers is intense manual labor. The harvesting period for roses depends on weather and location and can be as long as a month in cooler conditions and as short as 16-20 days in hotter seasons.[14]
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Iran,Bulgaria, andTurkey are the major producers of rose oil from thecultivars ofRosa ×damascena.France andIndia also contribute significantly to the market.
The cultivation of the "Bulgarian rose" asRosa ×damascena has been developed since Roman times. It is cultivated for commercial use in an area in the vicinity ofKazanlak andKarlovo inBulgaria called the "Valley of Roses". The distillate from these roses is called "Bulgarian rose oil" and "Bulgarian rose otto". Families still operate small distilleries and produce what is denominated "village oil", but a state cooperative in Turkey'sIsparta region carefully regulates the commercialization of rose oil. The roses are still grown by the family farms but are brought to stills established and regulated by the cooperative for distillation and quality control.
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Damask roses are used in cooking as a flavoring ingredient or spice. They are an ingredient in the spice mixture denominatedras el hanout.Rose water and powdered roses are used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. Rose water is often sprinkled on meat dishes, while rose powder is added to sauces. Chicken with rose is a popular Middle Eastern dish. Whole flowers, or petals, are also used in the herbal teazuhurat. The most popular use is in the flavoring of desserts such asice cream,jam,Turkish delights,rice pudding,yogurt, etc.
For centuries, the Damask rose has symbolized beauty and love. Its fragrance has been captured and preserved in the form ofrose water by a method that can be traced to ancient times in the Middle East and later to the Indian subcontinent.
Modern Western cookery does not use roses or rose water much, but it was a popular ingredient in ancient times and remained popular well into theRenaissance. It was most commonly used in desserts, and is still used in traditional desserts such asmarzipan andturrón. It has seen some revival in television cooking in the 21st century.
The origin of Damask rose is the Middle East and it is the national flower of Iran.
Rosa damascena Mill is the hybrid between R. gallica and R. Phoenicia and is the member of Rosaceae family with more than 200 species and 18,000 cultivars around the world. R. damascena as the king of flowers has been the symbol of love, purity, faith and beauty since the ancient times. It was originated from Iran and essential oil extracting from its flowers has been started since 7th century A.D.
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Media related toRosa × damascena at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toRosa × damascena at Wikispecies| International | |
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