The green part of the flower that protects the bud and then opens (reflexes) to allow the bloom to open. Roses typically have five sepals. Sepals either drop off, or persist as the fruit ripens into hips. The surface texture and shape of sepals varies and assists in identification of roses.

Sepals can be simple and smooth, hairy, fringed, glandular, oval, pointed, leafy (foliate) or a combination of two or more. See PHOTOS.