Rosa canina, Linn Common names and Synonyms: Dog rose, Hip-tree, Wild brier; Cynosbata, Fructus cynosbati. Nat. Ord. Rosaceae. Parts Used: The
recent ripe fruit of Rosa Canina, Linn and other related indigenous species.
History, Description, and
Chemical Composition. This plant is indigenous to Europe, and introduced into this
country; it usually attains the height of 6 or 10 feet, and flowers in June
and July. The flowers are succeeded by a scarlet fruit called hip. The fruit
(Rosae Caninae Fructus) was official in Br. Pharm., 1885. It is inodorous,
but possesses a rather pleasant, sweetish, acidulous taste, which is
increased by the action of frost. The hip or fruit (not a true fruit)
consists of the developed tube of the calyx, inclosing within its cavity
numerous carpels or true fruits; these must be carefully removed before it
is used for pharmaceutical purposes. After having been dried it contains
gum, citric acid, malic acid, a large proportion of uncrystallizable sugar,
various salts, and traces of wax, resin, and volatile oil. Its properties
are preserved by beating the pulp with sugar (C.). The vanilla-like
fragrance of the fruits is due to the presence of vanillin (Schneegans,
Jahresb. der Pharm., 1890, p. 148).
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