Ribes Gooseberry
Posted: Monday, October 05, 2009
by Dennis Sons
tn nursery
Ribes is a genius of a flowering plant belonging to the family Grossulariaceae. Gooseberries and currants (red and black) belong to the genus Ribes. It appears that the name "currant" has been derived from Corinth, a city in Greece, which was the chief exporter of dried raisins throughout Europe. However, one should note that the Greek currant which was exported in the Middle Ages was actually a dried grape and not actually a currant. The misnomer has persisted primarily because of the resemblance in taste, shade and size of red and black currants to the dried grape raisin. The term gooseberry appears to have been derived from French. In many parts of Europe, gooseberries were once known as Fay berries, chiefly due to superstitious beliefs about the prickly shrub and its protection from witches.
Although usually placed as a subgenus within Ribes, a few taxonomists treat Grossularia as a separate genus, although hybrids between gooseberry and blackcurrant (e.g., the Jostaberry) are possible. The subgenus Grossularia differs somewhat from currants, chiefly in their spiny stems, and in that their flowers grow one to three together on short stems, not in racemes.
Ribes are frequently seen growing in the wild in most parts of the northern hemisphere. Ribes thrive in mild temperate and cooler climates of the north. Cultivation of gooseberry in North America for commercial purposes started after the arrival of Europeans. It was observed that gooseberry thrived in the cooler temperate climates of the north east. Today, gooseberry has established itself as Native American plant and can be seen growing in the wild in many NE states. Large scale gooseberry production is still limited to some Eastern European countries and Russia.
Gooseberries can be eaten raw or one can even extract the juice and drink it. In some parts of the world, gooseberry juice is widely popular because of its high vitamin C content. There are also some who believe that gooseberry fruit has medicinal powers and can cure a range of medical ailments.
Today, farming of gooseberry is controlled and restricted in some States. The chief reason for this is because the gooseberry shrub can become a host to a fungus that can destroy white pine trees. The white pine tree is an essential timber tree and in the past there was a federal ban on the cultivation of certain Ribes. The ban has been lifted but some states still prohibit the cultivation of certain gooseberry shrubs.
Today, scientists have developed hybrid gooseberry shrubs which are resistant to the white pine rust disease. However, before planting a gooseberry or currant plant, it is highly recommended that one speak to the local agriculture department to know that what restrictions are in place.
In the last few years, there has been a gooseberry revival in the USAs. The shrub makes an attractive addition to the landscape. Other benefits include a delicious fruit with lots of vitamins. Gooseberry can also be made into a jam, syrup or juice. Frequently, gooseberries are added to salads and local dishes to add color/flavor.
Gooseberries play a vital role in the ecosystem. They provide food for many birds, small mammals, insects, butterflies and their larva.
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