Its Cool to Classify...

Domain: Eukarya Has a distinct membrane-bound nucleus

Kingdom: Plantae Eukaryotic, multicellular, photosynthetic

Phylum: Magnoliophyta Produces flowers

Class:         Magnoliopsida Eudicot-flower parts are multiples of 4 or 5; root system
                                                                          is made up of one primary root with secondary roots
                                                                           branching off from it; leaves have net-like veins;
                                                                           vascular bundles are in a ring; 2 cotyledons.

Order:       Rosales      There are no striking features that suggest that the
                                                                          organisms in this order would be related, however, they
                                                                          do share some similar wood characteristics and seed
                                                                         anatomy; therefore, their grouping is dependent on
                                                                         phylogenetic analyses of the DNA sequence data.

Family:      Rosaceae   Diverse group of economically valuable and ornamental
                                                                            species; include trees, shrubs, and herbs. Have five
                                                                           sepals fused at their base; all floral parts are attached to
                                                                          a hypanthium which differs in shape depending on the
                                                                          species and stage of development.

Genus:       Rosa        Stems usually armed with thorns; leaves are alternate
                                                                         and pinnately compound; oval leaflets are sharply
                                                                         toothed and their fleshy, berrylike “fruit” is known as the
                                                                         rose hip.

Species:    Rosa multifloraMultiflora rose-perennial shrub that forms dense,
                                                                          impenetrable "clumps" of vegetation; height ranges
                                                                          6-10 feet; leaves alternate, pinnately compound;
                                                                          usually has thorns.

--The scientific name, Rosa multiflora, is translated to “multi-flowered rose” in English.

--Although the most common name for the specie is multiflora rose, there are multiple common names that Rosa multiflora is known by: baby rose, Japanese rose, seven-sisters rose, rambler rose, and the multiflowered rose. Some of these names are rather self-explanatory like the Multiflora Rose and the Multiflowered Rose. However, the name Japanese rose is representative of the country in which the species originated. While the remaining names (baby rose, seven-sisters rose, and rambler rose)all describe physical characteristics of the organism.

Phylogenetic Trees of Rosa multiflora

Phylogenetic Tree of the Rosa multiflora

The tree above shows the relationships from the kingdom Plantae to the species Rosa multiflora. The phyla under Plantae are determined by the morphology of the species; however, as you move down the tree, the location of a species is no longer clearly determined by morphology, so DNA sequencing becomes involved in placing the species within a group. This is shown in the example below.

Phylogenetic tree of Rosa multiflora (branching from Subfamily)

Within the subfamily Rosoideae, we will find Rosa multiflora. Filipendula vulgaris, Fragaria vesca, Potentilla indica, and Rubus ursinus are most closely related to the multiflora rose. Phylogenists determined the relationships between these species by examining their DNA sequences.

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