Prickly Gooseberry
(Ribes cynosbati)

Other common names: Dogberry, Pasture Gooseberry

Family: Gooseberry Family (Grossulariaceae), Saxifrage Family (Saxifragaceae)

Distinctive features: Shrub, ;This is distinguished by its berries that are covered with prickles. The stems are smooth except for one or two weak prickles at the nodes where the leaves grow.

Similar species:
  •   Bristly Wild Gooseberry (Ribes oxyacanthoides spp. oxyacanthoides) - stem covered with numerous soft prickles, with a few stouter prickles at leaf nodes.

  •   Wild Gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum) - stems smooth, with 1-2 spines at leaf nodes, berries lack prickles .


Flowers: Spring;  Green/Brown;  5 parts (petals)

Leaves: Alternate;  Simple;  Toothed;  Alternate, simple.

Fruit/Seeds: Fruit covered with prickles

Habitat: Open forests

Edible: Fruits are edible.

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 306    Shrubs of Ontario: 135   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common

For more information visit: Ontario Trees and Shrubs

Photographs: 38 photographs available, of which 4 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

  

Typical leaf (underside).

An unripe berry, showing the numerous prickles that adorn it. In spite of the prickles, the berries are edible!

A mature stem. Note the pattern of the bark.

A younger stem. Note the single large prickle at the leaf node, and the fine fuzzy hairs along the stem.
  

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