Rosa rubiginosa - Sweet briar, also known as eglantine, is a deciduous shrub native to Europe and Western Asia. It grows to heights of 2 to 3 meters. The pink flowers give off a strong scent similar to apples. The red fruit is 1 to 2 centimeters in size and is popular for making rose hip tea. A light fuzz, located below each seed pod, can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach if accidentally ingested. Sweet briar is a fast growing plant and considered an invasive weed when introduced to non-native areas.
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Liechtenstein became a principality or “Fürstentum” and a sovereign state within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719 through Charles VI’s unification of the “lordship” of Schellenberg and the county of Vaduz. When Napoleon reorganized his European holdings, Liechtenstein became part of the German Confederation of the Rhine. Following Napoleon’s defeat, Liechtenstein became independent, but entered into an association with the Austrian Empire, a loose union lasting until the end of World War I.
