A look at the history and phylogeny of the rose species (Rosa × damascena)

The Rosa damascena species is one of the most important species of the Rosa family (Rosaceae) in Iran, which grows in the mountainous areas of Iran from the western parts of the country to the central and eastern foothills. This species is important in terms of its use in the pharmaceutical and perfume industries. Based on extensive studies conducted on the genotypes of this species in Iran, considerable diversity has been observed, and Iran can be considered as a center with potential for creating genetic diversity and improving varieties of this species. It seems that this species could be the most important direct ancestor of the northwestern European varieties of the Rosa section in the Rosa genus, which was created as a cross between three wild rose species, and the R. moschata species is its Asian maternal parent species. Fossil evidence suggests that Asia was the ancestral region for the genus Rosa, and the Synstylae section of this genus, as the oldest group, expanded into Europe about 30 million years ago. The phylogeny of this genus is problematic, indicating that further studies are needed to present an analysis in an evolutionary framework.