Rosa sp

Uncertain identification, probably Rosa pendulina, canina or hybrid. Deciduous shrub of the Rosaceae family, observed here in a rocky high mountain area, not exceeding 40 cm in height, with a compact and branched habit, prominently visible woody stems.

The flower, widely open, has five petals with a white to cream-white base, irregularly spotted and veined with pink, with a center of yellow stamens. This pale coloration spotted with pink is atypical for Rosa pendulina, which usually shows a bright magenta pink; it could indicate a hybrid or an individual variation. A certain identification would require the examination of the prickles, sepals, and hips.

In its natural habitat, the flowering of wild mountain roses in the Picos de Europa extends from June to August depending on altitude and exposure. The photographed individual illustrates the morphological plasticity that these shrubs can express on rocky and windy high-altitude sites.

The precise identification of this plant remains to be confirmed in the field.