These are the hips of Golden Showers rose, one completely dried out and one a little more fresh. I don't know why it never occurred to me to cut one open before to see what it looks like inside. I think the fibers between the seeds are really wild-looking. Rose hips are edible, and a good source of Vitamin C, but I've never tried them. I suppose there must be differences in palatability from one variety of rose to another but I have to say these ones don't look too appealing as food. I have had various flavored teas with rosehips as an ingredient, and I find them appalling, but I bet I would like the taste more in jam. Varieties with smaller hips are good for attracting and feeding birds. In fact Rosa multiflora is too good at attracting birds, and has conscripted them to spread it into natural areas where it tends to strangle out native flora. Sad though I think this is, I have very fond memories of a road trip once while the feral roses were blooming. What a treat to smell roses while coasting down the highway doing 60 mph!
Today I'm joining Lisa's Chaos for Macro Monday.
