Faul Preserve | Ribes pinetorum | orange gooseberry

Botanical Family: Grossulariaceae

Scientific Name: Ribes pinetorum

Common Names: orange gooseberry

Botanical Description:

Ribes pinetorum typically occurs at higher elevations (7,000-10,000ft) in moist environments, understory in coniferous forests, and meadows. It appreciates some shade. It is a deciduous shrub growing up to 2 meters in height with erect or sprawling stems (1,2). Leaves are alternate, simple, and orbicular, with 3-5 broad lobes (1,2). The branches have 1-3 spines per node, with gray color that acquire a purple tint with age (2). Flowers are solitary, with 5-6 mm long, off-white to pale orange petals tinged with purple (2,4). Sepals are orange to purplish (4). It flowers from April to September, producing fruits which are globulous, densely spiny, berries (2). The berries are dark purple, to red purple in color, with a size of 10-15mm in diameter (2). Berries are palatable.

Ecological Significance:

In addition to being insect-pollinated, this plant and other Ribes spp. growing in association with white pines serve as the alternate host plant for Cronartium ribicola, a rust fungus responsible for White Pine Blister Rust (2,5,6). Signs of the disease on Ribes spp. include orange pustules on the underside of leaves (6). Symptoms include chlorotic spots on upper leaf surfaces. When infected, damage to Ribes spp. is usually minimal and symptoms are less severe compared to those on pines (6). However, Ribes pinetorum is the most important member of its genus for spreading White Pine Blister Rust (6).

Ethnobotanical Value: 

Berries can be consumed raw or cooked and, when ripe, have a pleasant acidic flavor. At peak ripeness, the spines may be easily removed from the fruits by brushing them. Chiricahua Apache natives ground the berries and compressed the mash into cakes for winter consumption (7).

Distribution: 

Southwest USA (Apache, Coconino, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Navajo, Pima, and Yavapai Counties), Mexico

Photos:

Full | Leaves | Leaf Detail | Flower | Fruit |