A long, straight, needle-like prickle is called an acicle. like the "thorns" on .Rosa Hugonis.
Multiflora roses also have a flatter prickle. It seems to occur mostly on new growth.
After bloom, this rose throws out long supple stems, with far spaced prickles. You'll think there aren't any and grab a stem to find that, indeed, they are definitely there.
| Not only do these roses line their stems with prickles, they protect their buds with them, too, as you can see in this image of terminal buds. These are tiny little hooks, but sharp. |
As the canes age, they become very woody and the bark turns from bright green to a grayish-brown with multiple fissures. The prickles turn gray and seem to me to get smaller than they are on newer growth - without, of course - losing any of their sharpness or grabbing power.
This 'grabbing power' is fueled by the downward curve in the prickles, which is what helps this shrub turn into a climbing plant. The long wands of supple new growth wave about in the wind. If they encounter anything, the prickles dig in and grab it. If that something is a tree or another, larger shrub, they hook on for dear life and new growth issues from buds to repeat the operation.
I've got specimens that have climbed trees to over fifteen feet (5 m). Once the growth hardens and becomes woody, they are very difficult to dislodge from their reluctant hosts.
I do have one that I've allowed to climb into one of the mature spice bushes (Lindera benzoin. It has practically engulfed it and needs cutting back badly, but I do so enjoy its blooming period, when the fifteen foot (4.5 m) shrub becomes a huge fountain of frothy white. Tackling that rose is one of those jobs that remain on my 'to do' list.
| Multiflora rose hips are small, about a quarter of an inch (0.63 cm) in diameter. They remain on the shrub for quite some time. |
Birds and wildlife eat them, but it seems that they wait until other, more tasty food, is gone first.
Eventually, the red casings dry to brown if they are full of viable seed or shrivel and turn black, if they aren't.
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