Mountain gooseberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain gooseberry |
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| R. montigenum, growing in a disturbed area where an avalanche had previously occurred, in the Spring Mountains, in southern Nevada | |
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Ribes
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| Species: |
montigenum
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The Mountain Gooseberry (scientific name: Ribes montigenum) is a type of currant plant. It's also known by other names like alpine prickly currant or western prickly gooseberry. This plant is famous for its tasty, bright red berries.
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About the Mountain Gooseberry Plant
The Mountain Gooseberry is a shrub that can grow up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) tall. Its branches are covered in small, sharp prickles and soft hairs. You'll also find 1 to 5 sharp spines along its stems.
Where the Mountain Gooseberry Grows
This plant is native to western North America. You can find it from Washington state all the way south to California. It also grows east into the Rocky Mountains. It prefers high mountain areas. This includes subalpine and alpine climates. It often grows in forests or on rocky slopes called talus.
What the Mountain Gooseberry Looks Like
The leaves of the Mountain Gooseberry are slightly hairy and have small glands. They can be up to 4 centimeters (about 1.6 inches) long. Each leaf is divided into about five deep sections or lobes with jagged edges. They grow on a stem called a petiole, which can be several centimeters long.
Flowers and Berries
The Mountain Gooseberry produces several flowers in a cluster called a raceme. Each flower has five sepals. These are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. They can be yellow-green, pale pink, orange, or yellow. These sepals spread out to look like a star. In the middle of the flower, there are five smaller, club-shaped red petals. You'll also see purple-red stamens with yellowish or cream-colored tips.
The fruit of the Mountain Gooseberry is a bright red to orange-red berry. It can grow up to a centimeter long. These berries are edible and have a tart, but good, taste. They are usually covered in soft bristles. Unlike some other currants, this berry has only a small dried flower part left at its end.
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The tasty berries of the Mountain Gooseberry.
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The star-shaped flowers of the Mountain Gooseberry.
