The correct botanical term for the often called thorns found along the stem of the rose plant should in fact be called prickles. Thorns are modified branches or stems that originate from shoots while prickles originate from epidermis tissue (skin layer). In rare cases, gotten prick by rose prickles could result in serious medical condition known as tenosynovitis (inflammation and swelling of a tendon) [1-2].

Reference:

[1] Mangat P, Jawad ASM. A case of rose thorn tenosynovitis. Grand Rounds 2007;7:16-17. | Read article |

[2] Duerinckx JFH. Case report: subacute synovitis of the knee after a rose thorn injury: unusual clinical picture. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2008;466:3138-3142. | Read article |

On the experience of growing this exotic plant in Singapore, there was a post in the Green Culture Singapore website in February 2006 that sort of sum up the whole topic.