Ribes inerme

Rydb.

Whitestem gooseberry

Grossulariaceae Edible: Fruit 1,068 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Ribes inerme is a species of currant known by the common names whitestem gooseberry and white stemmed gooseberry. It is native to western North America.

Description

A shrub. It grows 0.9-1.8 m high and spreads 1.5 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The plant has some thorns. The leaves are small and have 3-5 lobes. They have blunt teeth along the edge. The flowers are greenish with pink or white petals. They are in small clusters. The fruit are purple-red and edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit, a gooseberry about 8mm in diameter, can be eaten raw or cooked.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten and also used for juice. They are cooked and also used for pies. They are also dried.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. In Canada it grows in foothills and mountain forest. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.

Where It Grows

Australia, Canada, Mexico, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality. Prefers a sunny position. Hardy to about -20°c. Some botanists include this species as part of R. divaricatum as R. divaricatum inerme. (Rydb.)Mc. Minn.. The stems are occasionally thorned or smooth. 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 4–6 months cold stratification at 0°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, grow on in a cold frame for their first winter, then plant 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

Ribes divaricatum var. inerme (Rydb.) McMinnRibes hirtellum var. inerme (Rydb.) SmileyRibes inerme var. inerme

Also Known As

Grosella espinosa, Grosella peluda

References (10)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994) (As Grossularia inermis)
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1206
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 747
MacKinnon, A., et al, 2009, Edible & Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine. p 106
Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 1:202. 1900

Show all 10 references

Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 478
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Segura, S., et al, 2018, The edible fruit species in Mexico. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2018) 65:1767–1793
Turner, N., 1997, Food Plants of Interior First Peoples. Royal BC Museum Handbook p 127
Turner, N., et al, 2011, "Up on the Mountain": Ethnobotanical Important of Montane Sites in Pacific Coastal North America. Journal of Ethnobiology 31(1): 4-43