Say the word “rose,” and it conjures up images of one of the most beautiful of all flowers. With its delicate, sweet-smelling blossom, this lovely flower has long been a symbol of beauty. First cultivated in Asia, the rose has become popular in many countries throughout the world. In fact, it is the national flower of the United States, and several states including Georgia, Iowa, and North Dakota have chosen the rose as their state flower. One of the largest and most important families of flowering plants, the rose family contains over 3,400 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs - including plants that produce fruit, such as pears, peaches, plums, and cherries. In addition to being used for decoration, the rose provides us with several useful products. Fine woods from its various trees are used in cabinetmaking and woodworking. Attar, an oil obtained from the rose petal is used to make perfumes. And the edible, berrylike “fruit” of the rose, called hips, is used in making teas, jellies and other preserves.