Ribes roezlii is a North American species of gooseberry known by the common name Sierra gooseberry.
Description Ribes roezlii is a spiny shrub growing erect to a maximum height around . The hairless to hairy or woolly leaves are up to long and divided into 3 to 5 rounded, toothed lobes.Calflora taxon report, University of California: Ribes roezlii . accessed 1.30.2013
The inflorescence is a solitary flower or raceme of 2 or 3 small wind-pollinatedUS Forest Service Fire Ecology flowers hanging pendent from the branches. Each flower has five reflexed red-purple sepals around a tube-shaped ring of smaller white or pinkish petals, the stamens and stigmas protruding.Flora of North America, Ribes roezlii Regel, Eduard August von 1879. Gartenflora 28(8): 226–227 description in Latin, commentary and figure captions in GermanRegel, Eduard August von 1879. Gartenflora 28(8): plate 982 color illustration of Ribes roezlii (red-flowered plant at left)
The fruit is a red or purple berry up to long which is covered in thick, long spines. Among other currants and gooseberries with overlapping ranges, such as mountain gooseberry or wax currant, the sierra gooseberry is especially notable for the large size and extreme spininess of its berries, and for the absence of a noticeable dried flower remnant at the end of the fruit.
Distribution and habitat Ribes roezlii is native to many of the mountain ranges of California, its distribution extending east into Nevada and north into Oregon. Its habitat includes chaparral, woodlands, and forested areas.Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
Var. amictum is uncommon in California.
Ecology Seeds are dispersed by running water and by animals that eat the fruits, such as American black bears. The foliage is an important food source for mule deer and bighorn sheep, and the fruits are a common food for fox sparrows living in its range.
Uses The berries can be eaten by humans in an emergency, but are unpalatable.
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment — Ribes roezlii Ribes roezlii - Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California