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Rosa canina
Dog Rose
Widespread scrambling shrub native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. Bears five-petalled pink flowers May–July and scarlet hips rich in vitamin C.
Hedgerows & scrubMay – July
Botanical Reference
A curated reference for enthusiasts, botanists, and gardeners. Browse by family, colour, season, and habitat across thousands of documented species.
416
Families
~369 000
Known species
6
Continents
Classification
Rosaceae
Over 4 800 species across 91 genera. Includes roses, apples, cherries, and strawberries. Characterised by five-petalled flowers and hypanthia.
Orchidaceae
The largest flowering plant family with ~28 000 species. Renowned for elaborate bilateral symmetry and mycorrhizal seed germination.
Asteraceae
Second-largest family with over 32 000 species. Distinguishable by composite flower heads (capitula) that mimic single blooms.
Fabaceae
Third-largest family (~19 500 sp.). Key ecological role via nitrogen fixation. Includes peas, beans, acacias, and wisteria.
Lamiaceae
Around 7 000 species of aromatic herbs and shrubs. Square stems and opposite leaves are diagnostic. Includes lavender, sage, and basil.
Ranunculaceae
Approximately 2 500 species of mostly herbaceous plants characterised by numerous free stamens and apocarpous pistils.
Featured
Rosa canina
Widespread scrambling shrub native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. Bears five-petalled pink flowers May–July and scarlet hips rich in vitamin C.
Papaver rhoeas
Annual of disturbed arable land. Brilliant red petals with a dark basal spot. Extensively distributed across Europe and temperate Asia.
Lavandula angustifolia
Aromatic subshrub from Mediterranean hillsides. Dense spikes of violet-blue flowers attract pollinators and yield commercially important essential oil.
Helianthus annuus
Tall annual from western North America. Capitulate inflorescences exhibit heliotropism in bud stage. Seeds are an important oilseed crop worldwide.
Viola odorata
Rhizomatous perennial of woodland edges and hedgebanks. One of the earliest spring flowers, strongly fragrant. Used historically in perfumery and confectionery.
Convallaria majalis
Shade-tolerant rhizomatous herb forming spreading colonies in deciduous woodland. Racemes of pendant white bells noted for intense fragrance. All parts toxic.
Index
Phenology
About
FloraBase is a botanical reference project cataloguing flowering plant diversity across all major families and geographic regions. Our entries draw on published herbarium specimens, field observations, and peer-reviewed taxonomic revisions.
Coverage spans angiosperms (flowering plants) from the core eudicots — including Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae — through the monocots, with dedicated sections for Orchidaceae and Poaceae. Gymnosperms and ferns are outside the project scope.
The project follows the APG IV classification system. Species pages include synonyms, distribution maps, bloom phenology, habitat notes, and conservation status where assessed by the IUCN Red List.