Why Do Roses Have Thorns1? 为什么玫瑰花有刺？

陈佳

One of the most beautiful flowers in the world is roses. They are a symbol of love and friendship and have an amazing fragrance2. Roses are red， pink， white; in fact， there are over 100 species of roses around the world！

●The Purpose of Thorns

Roses come with sharp thorns. Scientists believe that roses have thorns to protect them from being eaten by animals who might be attracted to them due to their sweet fragrance.

●Story of Roses and Thorns

The Native Americans believe that many years ago the rose bush had no thorns. They were just pretty pink roses with leaves and a smooth stem3， emanating4 sweet fragrance. But they made an easy catch for the rabbits and other predators5 that ate up entire bushes many times. The rose bushes met and decided to go to Nanahboozoo， a man who had magical powers. He was angry as the rose bush planted by him had also been eaten by rabbits. The rose bushes who came to see him， told him their story and Nanahboozoo gave them small thorns to cover their body so that no predator would eat them. So roses are able to grow bigger and prettier each year by using their thorns to scare off animals who intend to eat them up.

玫瑰是世界上最美麗的花之一，是爱情和友谊的象征，有着令人惊叹的香味。玫瑰有红色、粉色、白色的;事实上，全世界有100多种玫瑰！

●长刺的目的

玫瑰有尖刺。科学家们相信，玫瑰有刺可以保护它们不被动物吃掉，因为它们甜美的香味可能引来动物。

●玫瑰花和刺的故事

印第安人相信许多年前的玫瑰丛没有刺。它们只是美丽的粉红色玫瑰，有叶子和光滑的茎，散发着芳香。但兔子和其他捕食者很容易发现它们，并多次吃掉了整个灌木丛。玫瑰丛们碰面后决定去找一个叫做纳纳赫布祖奥的有魔力的人。他很生气，因为他种的玫瑰丛也被兔子吃掉了。来见他的玫瑰丛向他讲述了它们的故事，于是他给了它们小刺来遮住它们的躯体，这样就不会有捕食者吃掉它们。因此，用刺吓跑那些想要吃掉它们的动物后，玫瑰每年都能长得更大更漂亮。

（英语原文选自：mocomi.com）

【Notes】

1. thorn [■] n. 刺;荆棘 2. fragrance [■] n. 香味，芬芳 3. stem [■] n. 干;茎 4. emanate [■] v. 产生;散发

5. predator [■] n. 捕食者