Hupa gooseberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hupa gooseberry |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ribes
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| Species: |
marshallii
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The Ribes marshallii is a type of currant plant. It's also known by its common names, Hupa gooseberry and Marshall's gooseberry. This plant is special because it is found only in one specific area: the Klamath Mountains in southern Oregon and northern California. When a plant or animal is found only in one place, we say it is endemic to that area.
About the Hupa Gooseberry
The Hupa gooseberry grows in cool, cone-bearing forests, also known as mountain coniferous forests. It is a shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree, usually with many stems.
What It Looks Like
This gooseberry plant has stems that can grow quite long, from 1 to 2 meters (about 3 to 6.5 feet). These stems often arch over and can even grow roots from their tips if they touch moist ground.
The stems have sharp parts called spines. Each little bump on the stem, called a node, has three spines that can be up to 1 centimeter (about 0.4 inches) long.
The leaves of the Hupa gooseberry are a bit hairy and are about 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long. They are divided into a few parts, or lobes, that have widely spaced teeth along their edges. You might also notice tiny, sticky hairs on the veins and edges of the leaves.
Its Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of the Hupa gooseberry are quite pretty. They can appear alone or in small groups of up to three flowers. These flowers hang down from the branches where the leaves meet the stem.
Each small flower has five pointed parts called sepals, which are purple-red and bend upwards. In the middle of the flower, there's a tube-shaped part made of bright yellow petals. From this yellow tube, five stamens (which produce pollen) and two thin, joined styles (parts of the female reproductive system) stick out.
After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit. This fruit is a berry that is prickly and shaped like an oval. It can grow up to 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) long. When the berry is ripe, it turns a dark red color. Good news! These berries are safe to eat and are said to taste good.
