Ribes burejense

F. Schmidt

Bureja gooseberry

Grossulariaceae Edible: Fruit 27 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Ribes burejense, commonly referred to as the Bureja gooseberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Grossulariaceae, which includes currants and gooseberries. It is considered to be closely related to Ribes aciculare and shares several morphological characteristics with that species. Like other Ribes species, R. burejense is particularly susceptible to honey fungus.

Description

A spiny shrub. It grow 1 m tall. The young branches are yellow. They are covered with bristles and have prickles at the nodes. The prickles are u to 1 cm long. The leaves are heart shaped. They are 2-4 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. They have 3-5 deep lobes. There are teeth along the edge. The leaves have soft hairs and glands. The flowers are pale reddish-brown. There are 1 or 2 flowers in the axils of leaves. The fruit are prickly, green and juicy. They are 1 cm across.

Edible Uses

This gooseberry, about 10mm in diameter, has an acid but palatable flavour. If left unpicked by birds it can hang on the bush until November, at which point it develops a rather pleasant blackcurrant flavour. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used for drinks.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In northern China it grows between 900-2,300 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Korea, Manchuria, Mongolia, North America, North Korea, Russia, USA,

Cultivation

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality. Quite tolerant of shade though not fruiting so well in such a position. Hardy to about -20°c. Plants can harbour a stage of 'white pine blister rust', so they should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months of cold stratification at 2–5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Under normal storage conditions seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting out in late spring the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10–15cm with a heel, can be taken in July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, can be taken November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 150 Ribes species.

Synonyms

Grossularia burejensis. (Fr. Schmidt.)A.Berg.

References (5)

Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 426
Kunshan, Shi, Non-wood forest products in Asia. FAO Corporate Document Repository
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Reis. Amur-Land., Bot. 42. 1868
Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 95