Does Every Rose Have Its Thorn?

Despite what your favorite ’80s power ballad would have you believe, roses don’t have thorns at all. They have prickles.

What’s the difference? Thorns are woody branches deeply embedded in a plant’s stalk that contain a bundle of vascular tissue to transport nutrients. Prickles, by contrast, are simply outgrowths on the plant’s outer layer. They don’t contain any vascular tissue, which is why they snap off so easily. Honestly, we expected more attention to detail from noted botanist and Poison frontman Bret Michaels.

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