Scrambling or procumbent shrub, to c. 3.5 m high; stems with scattered, often paired, sturdy curved or straight prickles to c. 7 mm long, glabrescent. Leaves sometimes deciduous, pinnate, 5–7(–9)-foliate; leaflets ovate to obovate or elliptic, mostly 10–30 mm long, 7–20 mm wide, base rounded to broadly cuneate, apex obtuse or acute, margins serrate, teeth gland-tipped, both surfaces glabrous, midvein on the lower leaf surface with scattered glands; stipules glabrous, margins fimbriate with dispersed gland-tipped hairs between teeth. Flowers single or in few- to many-flowered terminal corymbs; peduncles glabrescent, sparsely glandular, not prickly. Sepals 5, occasionally pinnatifid, reflexed, margins glandular; petals 5, usually double, obovate, 13–15 mm long, emarginate, white or pink; stamens and styles numerous, styles forming a column, protruding. Hip ovoid to globose, to c. 15 mm long, glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent, red to purplish, sepals not persistent. Flowers Nov.–Dec.
GipP, OtP, NIS, HSF, HNF, Strz. Also naturalised SA, NSW. Native to China, Japan and Korea. Currently known from only a few locations in moist riparian habitats or weedy roadsides, often near abandoned habituations.
