THE rose family, or rosaceae to give it its technical name, is a large group of plants. It has over 4,000 species in 90 genera and can be found worldwide.

Here in the UK, our wild rose species range from delicate creeping plants to trees such as rowan or hawthorn. The family also contains many species of economic, and indeed gastronomic, value, including strawberry, raspberry, bramble, apple, pear and cherry.

If we discount the trees, one of our tallest roses is the dog rose. It’s a familiar sight in woods and hedgerows, where its fearsome thorns allow it to scramble up neighbouring vegetation. Under the right conditions it can reach up to three metres.

The flowers are large and range from pure white to a deep pink, with a cluster of bright yellow stamens in the centre. They produce a subtle sweet fragrance and are popular with bees and other pollinators.

In late summer, the dog rose produces bright red hips which contain many hairy seeds (and yes, these can be used to produce “itching powder”, but please don’t pass on this information!). The hips are a valuable food source for birds, including assorted members of the thrush family and waxwings.

At the other extreme size-wise are a number of creeping roses belonging to the genus Potentilla. These include cinquefoils and silverweed, which are a common sight in grasslands around the county.

Tormentil is a species which is a little more difficult to find, although where it does crop up it can be in large numbers. It prefers acidic soils, which are not that common in East Lothian (too much limestone). It can be found in the Lammermuirs and in some coastal grasslands, particularly on volcanic rocks such as those near Tyninghame.

Tormentil produces bright yellow flowers which on first glance are very similar to those of most of its close relatives. However, a closer look will reveal that there are only four petals – members of the rose family almost always have five. This is an easy way to tell it apart from, for example, creeping cinquefoil. Like the dog rose, the flowers provide lots of nectar for bees and butterflies.

Roses have a long history in folklore, which goes beyond the romantic imagery of a dozen long-stemmed red clichés. In Europe, the dog rose was associated with the Devil, although on a more positive note, the petals could be used to ward off vampires – handy if you’re out of garlic.

Dog rose was also said (predictably) to treat dog bites, whilst tormentil was used by herbalists to treat diarrhoea, ulcers and sores.

On a more practical level, tormentil roots have been used to make a red dye and the plant has been used in leather tanning. Dog rose hips contain large amounts of vitamin C and have been harvested extensively over the years. During the Second World War, rose hip syrup was widely used as a supplement to a diet short of fresh produce. My own (possibly false) childhood memory of this syrup is that it’s sweet enough to make your teeth hurt.