Variation in hip (fruit) morphology in rose species (Rosa spp., Rosaceae).
In traditional Rosa classifications, this morphological variation is
utilized for sub-division into subgenera, sections, and subsections. However,
the genus Rosa has a complex evolutionary history that is not always
adequately reflected in morphological characters. As a result, morphology can
be an unreliable indicator of phylogenetic relationships in Rosa.
For further deat, see: AFLP markers as a tool to reconstruct complex
relationships: A case study in Rosa (Rosaceae), American
Journal of Botany, Volume 95, Issue 3, pages 353-367, http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/short/95/3/353.