Rose Anatomy in 3D: Petals, Prickles, Rose Hip and Roots
The rose is one of the best-loved flowers in the world, famous for its scent and its sharp stems. In the 3D Plant Anatomy simulator you can turn a rose around, zoom into each part, slice it open and watch water flow through it in X-ray.
Explore in 3DFour ways to see the rose
Whole plant
Cross-section
X-ray water flowRose quick facts
| Plant group | Flowering shrub, rose family |
|---|---|
| Species | Over 100 wild species |
| Stem | Covered in sharp prickles |
| Fruit | The rose hip |
| Relatives | Apples, pears and strawberries |
Inside the rose
Inside a rose stem, rings of tiny tubes carry water up from the roots and sugar down from the leaves. The sharp points on the outside are prickles that grow from the stem's outer skin, so they snap off quite easily.
Parts of the rose
In the Parts up close view you can tap each of these parts to zoom in:
- Flower
- In the middle of the petals are the stamens that make pollen, and the parts that grow into seeds.
- Petals
- Soft, scented petals attract bees and other insects to carry pollen between flowers.
- Stem and prickles
- The sharp prickles grow from the outer skin of the stem and help protect the rose.
- Rose hip
- After the flower fades it can swell into a rose hip, a fruit full of seeds.
- Leaf
- Each rose leaf is made of several small leaflets with jagged edges.
- Roots
- Spreading roots anchor the rose and pull in water and minerals.
Interesting facts about the rose
- A rose's sharp points are prickles, not true thorns, because they grow from the outer skin of the stem.
- Its scent comes from oils made in tiny cells on the petals.
- After the flower fades, it can swell into a fruit called a rose hip.
- Roses belong to the same family as apples, pears and strawberries.
- There are over 100 wild species of rose and thousands of garden varieties.
More plants in 3D
Rose anatomy questions
Do roses have thorns?
Botanists call them prickles. True thorns grow from deep inside the stem, but a rose's prickles grow from the outer skin.
What is a rose hip?
The fruit of a rose. It forms after the flower fades and holds the seeds.
Why do roses smell nice?
Tiny cells on the petals make scented oils that attract pollinating insects.
Are roses related to apples?
Yes. Roses, apples, pears and strawberries all belong to the rose family.
The 3D Plant Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.