Ribes missouriense
Encyclopedia
Ribes missouriense, The Missouri gooseberry or Missouri currant, is a prickly, many-stemmed shrub native to the U.S. State of Missouri and to adjoining parts of Kansas and Arkansas. It has been introduced to other States as well, and to parts of Canada.
The Missouri gooseberry was once common as far east as Ohio
, but was nearly extirpated there during the 19th and 20th centuries (partly due to early 20th-century efforts to prevent the spread of white pine blister rust by removing as many Ribes hosts as possible). Since 1982, however, the Missouri gooseberry has been granted protected status as an endangered species in Ohio, It is also endangered in New Jersey
and Pennsylvania
.
The edible berries of the shrub are commonly called "gooseberries" by locals, but since it is taxonomically closer to currants than to the European gooseberry, they are sometimes called "currants" when grown outside their historic range.
Missouri gooseberries must not be confused with "devil's tomatoes", the poisonous fruits of the Carolina horsenettle
. Although it is easy for an experienced person to differentiate one from the other, they have a few superficial similarities: they look somewhat similar when unripe, and both are borne on thorny, prickly plants. There is no taxonomic relation between them, however.
The Missouri gooseberry was once common as far east as Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, but was nearly extirpated there during the 19th and 20th centuries (partly due to early 20th-century efforts to prevent the spread of white pine blister rust by removing as many Ribes hosts as possible). Since 1982, however, the Missouri gooseberry has been granted protected status as an endangered species in Ohio, It is also endangered in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
The edible berries of the shrub are commonly called "gooseberries" by locals, but since it is taxonomically closer to currants than to the European gooseberry, they are sometimes called "currants" when grown outside their historic range.
Missouri gooseberries must not be confused with "devil's tomatoes", the poisonous fruits of the Carolina horsenettle
Carolina horsenettle
Carolina Horsenettle is not a true nettle, but a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to southeastern United States that has spread widely throughout North America...
. Although it is easy for an experienced person to differentiate one from the other, they have a few superficial similarities: they look somewhat similar when unripe, and both are borne on thorny, prickly plants. There is no taxonomic relation between them, however.