The rose of a lute is located near the center of the soundboard. It is an elaborate geometric or floral pattern that is usually cut out of the existing wood at that location, although it may be constructed separately and glued in place. Less commonly there will be a triangular arrangement of three proportionately smaller roses (see below). Besides its decorative function, the rose serves to vent the body cavity of the instrument to the environment, and thus it has at least a small influence on the sound of the instrument.