Shrub 1-2 m tall. Prickles paired at the nodes, narrow, straight, curved or bristly. Leaflets 5-9, waxy, elliptic to obovate, hairless above, downy below, teeth simple. Flowers solitary or few per cluster, single, unpleasant-smelling, white or sometimes pink; late summer to early autumn. Styles free, not protruding. Fruit pear-shaped, red to orange, bristly.
R. elegantula Rolfe from NW China is a shrub 1-2 m tall with densely prickly suckers, otherwise prickles absent or few but with many red bristles, leaflets 7-11, to 5 cm long, ovate to elliptic, hairless above, downy on midrib below, teeth simple. Flowers 1 or few, single, pale to deep pink; late spring and early summer. Styles free, not protruding. Fruit 1 cm wide or so, more or less ovoid, smooth or with glands.
R. forrestiana Boulenger from WChina is a shrub 1-2 m tall with prickles in pairs at the nodes, straight. Leaflets mostly 5-7, roundish, hairless above, hairy on veins below. Flowers 1 or to 5 per cluster, single, shades of pink, fragrant; summer. Styles free, protruding. Fruit about 1 cm wide, pear-shaped, red, smooth or bristly.
NW China, Russia.
Source: (2002). Rosa. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.