Ribes missouriense

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The Missouri currant or Missouri gooseberry (Ribes missouriense) is a prickly, many-stemmed shrub native to the U.S. State of Missouri and to adjoining parts of Kansas and Arkansas. It has been introduced to other States as well, and to parts of Canada.

The edible berries of the shrub are commonly called "gooseberries" by locals, but since it is taxonomically closer to currants than to the European gooseberry, they are sometimes called "currants" when grown outside their historic range.

Missouri gooseberries must not be confused with "devil's tomatoes", the poisonous fruits of the Carolina horsenettle. Although it is easy for an experienced person to differentiate one from the other, they have a few superficial similarities: they look somewhat similar when unripe, and both are borne on thorny, prickly plants. There is no taxonomic relation between them, however.