Bitter gooseberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bitter gooseberry |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ribes
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| Species: |
amarum
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| Synonyms | |
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The Ribes amarum, also known as the bitter gooseberry, is a special type of currant plant. It grows only in California, which means it is endemic to that state. You can find it in mountains, foothills, and canyons. It often lives in areas with Chaparral, which is a type of shrubland.
What it Looks Like
The bitter gooseberry is a shrub that can grow quite tall, usually between one and two meters (about 40 to 80 inches) high. Its stems have three sharp spines at each joint, and these spines can be up to one centimeter (about 0.4 inches) long.
The leaves of this plant are fuzzy and sticky. They are usually round and measure about 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long. Each leaf is divided into 3 to 5 rounded sections, and these sections have small teeth along their edges.
Flowers and Fruit
The bitter gooseberry's flowers grow either alone or in small groups of up to three. These flowers hang down from where the leaves meet the stem. The flowers are quite pretty! They have five pointed parts called sepals, which are usually purple-red and bend upwards.
In the middle of the flower, there's a tube-shaped part made of white or pink-colored petals. Inside this tube are five stamens (which make pollen) and two styles (which are part of the plant's reproductive system).
After the flowers, the plant produces a berry. This berry is bristly and can grow up to 2 centimeters wide. It starts out bright red and turns purple as it gets ripe.
