| Whitestem Gooseberry | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Grossulariaceae |
| Genus: | Ribes |
| Species: | R. inerme |
| Binomial name | |
| Ribes inerme Rydb. [1] |
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| Varieties | |
| Synonyms | |
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Ribes inerme is a species of currant known by the common name whitestem gooseberry. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to the Rocky Mountains,[7] The less common R. inerme var. klamathense, known as Klamath gooseberry, is confined to the states of California and Oregon.[2]
R. inerme grows in mountain forests, woodlands, and meadows. It is an erect or spreading thicketlike shrub approaching three meters in maximum height. The stem is hairless or bristly and has black resin glands and spines at its nodes. The small leaves are divided deeply into three to five toothed lobes which may be divided partway into smaller lobes. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or raceme of up to five flowers which hangs pendent. The flower has five reddish green sepals which are reflexed upward. At the center are white or pinkish petals and protruding stamens and stigmas. The fruit is an edible hairless greenish, purple, or black berry roughly a centimeter wide.