A once ubiquitous flower that used to adorn gardens across Diyarbakır is now being protected in greenhouses, as part of efforts to preserve and revive the endangered Muhammediye rose.
The rare rose, known for its distinct fragrance and short blooming season of just 20 days each year, is being cultivated at the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) International Agricultural Research and Training Center. The initiative aims to safeguard the flower, expand its cultivation and increase its commercial value in the cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries.
Fethullah Tekin, an agricultural engineer in the center's medicinal and aromatic plants department, told the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) that the center has conducted nearly three decades of research on medicinal and aromatic plants.
Tekin said the Muhammediye rose is among nearly 120 plant species undergoing preservation and development at the center. The work focuses on protecting genetic resources and restoring native flora threatened by rapid urbanization and the decline of garden culture.
Read more at Daily Sabah
