Rosa multiflora Thunb.

Scrambling shrub or liane, ± deciduous; stems often long and climbing to c. 6 m high, often intertwining and much-branched, often layering, glabrous; armature 0 or of few to numerous, ± uniform, flattened, falcate prickles. Lvs with 3–4 pairs of leaflets; petiole 15–30–(35) mm long, tomentose and sometimes with glandular hairs; stipules adnate for c. ⅔, usually densely clothed in glandular hairs and moderately to densely puberulent, pectinate with many narrow lobes, sometimes the lobes pinnately divided. Lamina of leaflets 15–50–(60) × 10–30 mm, elliptic to oblanceolate or obovate, shining deep green and glabrous above, moderately to densely clothed in eglandular hairs beneath; margins serrate; base cuneate to rounded; apex acute to acuminate or cuspidate. Fls usually numerous in a pyramidal panicle, occasionally few, single, or rarely semi-double with c. 10 petals, 20–25 mm diam.; pedicels and peduncles moderately to densely pilose. Sepals deciduous, lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, acuminate, tomentose inside and on margins, with very few to many glandular hairs outside and on margins; outer sepals usually pinnately divided with a few narrowly linear lobes. Petals 8–14 mm long, obovate or broadly obovate, white or slightly pink. Styles fused in a column, well-exserted, glabrous. Fr. 6–8 × 4–5 mm, ± ellipsoid, glabrous, shining red or deep orange.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–Feb.; Fruiting: Mar.–Jun.