ROSE

Forever entwined with warring British royals and Shakespearean serenades, the rose is feted for its botanic beauty and as a symbol of love. But cultivars of the Rosaceae family have also been prized for their remedial properties. In the 19th century the British Pharmacopeia recommended a tincture made with petals of the French rose ( Rosa gallica) to treat diarrhoea. Rosehip tea, made from the fruit of the rose plant, is credited with a range of health benefits. Now the rose could be about to go high-tech: by pumping a rose’s vascular system with a conducting hydrogel, scientists have effectively turned it into an energy storage device. A “power plant” by any name.