The dog rose grows to about ten feet in height and has very sharp thorns. In spring and early summer it has pale pick flowers which turn into vivid orange seed pods at the end of summer. These pods must be dried and then eaten at the rate of one per three days to avoid scurvy in environments where this disease is common (ie, on long ocean voyages.) Certain cultures believe that placing a dog rose in a coffin prevents the body within from rising as undead.