Rosa laevigata, Cherokee Rose, jing ying zi (fruits)

Rosa laevigata, Cherokee Rose, jing ying zi (fruits) despite its North American-associated name is a fragrant rose with light-colored petals indigenous to southern China, Taiwan, southward to Laos and Vietnam. Introduced into the United States as early as 1780, it became naturalized and invasive and is associated with the suffering of the Cherokee during the forced removal through the Trail of Tears. The fruits, shown here from a Chinese pharmacy are used in traditional Chinese medicine to reduce urination, check diarrhea, internal bleeding and other uses.

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