Bláth na Seachtaine

This week's bláth na seachtaine is the dog rose.

The following comes from wildflowersofireland.net

Rose hips are a very good source of Vitamin C and also Vitamins A, D and E.  However, if eaten raw there may be mild nausea, vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea.  A small glass of milk or water should be given to drink if hips are swallowed.   

In the UK these fruits were gathered to make syrup during World War 2 as citrus fruits were not available. Schoolchildren collected them and were given money in return. The hips make very good jelly and wine also, but the liquid must be strained through very fine muslin as tiny little seeds are quite harsh on one's insides.  In the past, children put those same little seeds down the jerseys of unsuspecting other children where they caused incredible itching hence some other names by which they were known – Itchybacks, Cow-itches and Ticklers.