Rosa multiflora is held
responsible for the crowding and dying out of several native
plant species. This is a result of its ability to prosper
in almost any condition and the thick,
dense bushes that it creates. This occurrence, though it is awful in all cases, is especially detrimental when it takes over pasture lands. The reason for this is because it crowds out the essential forage plants that livestock like domestic cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, and horses graze on.
Why are animals, such as the previously mentioned livestock, not able to eat Rosa multiflora since it is a type of vegetation? The reason for this is due to the fact that their stems are armed with prickly thorns. The animals that do
attempt to feast upon the organism learn very quickly that this is not a wise decision. However, there are many organisms that are
able to interact successfully with Rosa multiflora without causing them harm. An example of this can be seen when birds, such as mockingbirds, robins, or red-winged blackbirds, eat the rose hips from the plant. They are able to avoid the thorns that surround the plant and act as the primary dispersers of its seed. In fact, it has been shown that the germination of Rosa multiflora seeds are enhanced when it passes through the digestive tract of birds.
Continue on to find out more about the interesting things that Rosa multiflora can be used for, click on Other Interesting Facts, or go back to Reproduction.
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