Editing Rose (section)

=== Thorns ===
The sharp growths along a rose stem, though commonly called "thorns", are technically [[thorns, spines and prickles|prickles]], outgrowths of the [[Epidermis (botany)|epidermis]] (the outer layer of tissue of the stem), unlike true thorns, which are [[Aerial stem modification|modified stems]]. Rose prickles are typically sickle-shaped hooks, which aid the rose in hanging onto other vegetation when growing over it. Some species such as ''[[Rosa rugosa]]'' and ''[[Rosa pimpinellifolia|R.&nbsp;pimpinellifolia]]'' have densely packed straight prickles, probably an adaptation to reduce [[Browsing (herbivory)|browsing]] by animals, but also possibly an adaptation to trap wind-blown [[sand]] and so reduce [[erosion]] and protect their [[root]]s (both of these species grow naturally on [[coast]]al [[dune|sand dunes]]). Despite the presence of prickles, roses are frequently browsed by [[deer]]. A few species of roses have only vestigial prickles that have no points.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Plant geneticist Zachary Lippman of [[Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory]] found that prickles are controlled by the LOG gene.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Science |last1=Satterlee |first1=J.W. |last2=Alonso |first2=D. |last3=Gramazio |first3=P. |title=Convergent evolution of plant prickles by repeated gene co-option over deep time. |date=2024 |volume=385 |issue=6708 |page=1663 |doi=10.1126/science.ado1663 |pmid=39088611 |pmc=11305333 |bibcode=2024Sci...385o1663S }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zimmer |first1=Carl |title=How Did Roses Get Their Thorns? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/science/how-did-roses-get-their-thorns.html |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=August 1, 2024}}</ref> Blocking the LOG gene in roses reduced the thorns (large prickles) into tiny buds.

{{gallery|mode=packed
|Rose Prickles.jpg|Rose thorns
|Roseleaves3800px.JPG|Rose leaflets
}}