BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Ribes oxyacanthoides | Northern Gooseberry 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Ribes oxyacanthoides is a native, deciduous shrub that grows to 1.5 to 5
feet (0.5-1.5 m) in height.  The branches are erect to sprawling and
covered with prickles.  The nodes have several 0.2- to 0.5-inch (0.5-1.3
cm) long stout spines.  Flowers occur singly or in clusters of two to
three.  The berry is 0.3 to 0.6 inch (0.7-1.6 cm) in diameter and
contains numerous seeds.  Henderson's gooseberry differs in that it is a
low, intricately branched shrub growing only 1 to 1.6 feet (0.3-0.5 m) in
height [31].

The root systems of Ribes spp. consist of shallow roots radiating from a
central root crown [26].  Some Ribes spp. reportedly have rhizomes
[5,25].  No information concerning the root systems of Ribes
oxyacanthoides was found in the literature.


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Ribes oxyacanthoides regenerates by seed.  Ribes spp. first begin
producing seeds when 3 to 5 years old.  Some seeds are dispersed by
animals, but many berries fall to the ground beneath the parent plant
[25,28].

Scarification and stratification enhance germination of Ribes spp.
Idaho gooseberry seeds stored at 32 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit (0-5 deg C)
for 90 days had 79 percent germination in sand moistened with nutrient
solution [28].  Mineral soil is the best seedbed for Ribes spp. [25].

Ribes spp. seeds have longterm viability [28].  They accumulate in the
organic mantle and mineral soil over time [25].

The ability of Ribes oxyacanthoides to regenerate vegetatively by
rhizomes or by sprouting is not documented in the literature.


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Northern gooseberry occurs on rocky and sandy shores, stony banks, talus
slopes and outcrops [31] and in clearings, moist woods, and thickets
[12,32].  It generally occurs at low elevations within the boreal forest
region [14,31].

Inland gooseberry, Umatilla gooseberry, and Idaho gooseberry occur along
drainages, ravines, and canyons, and on adjacent hillsides [7,11,14,21].
These three subspecies occupy different elevational ranges where they
are sympatric.  Umatilla gooseberry occurs below 2,950 feet (900 m)
elevation.  Idaho gooseberry occurs at elevations from 2,950 to 4,900
feet (900-1,500 m) [31].  Inland gooseberry occurs from 7,000 to 9,000
feet (2,130-2,750 m) elevation in Utah [39], 3,200 to 9,500 feet
(980-2,900 m) in Montana and 3,400 to 10,500 feet (1,000-3,200 m) in
Wyoming [6].

Henderson's gooseberry occurs on rocky sites above treeline including
limestone cliffs and talus slopes [14,21,31].  It occurs in a dry
boulder field at 7,924 feet (2,416 m) elevation in the Pioneer Mountains
of south-central Idaho [24].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Ribes oxyacanthoides is probably moderately shade tolerant; it occurs in
open woods and forests.  It probably becomes established in early seral
communities and remains present in mid-seral communities.

Inland gooseberry is most abundant in the shrubland stage of riparian
community succession.  Successional stages are as follows:  sandbar,
young cottonwoods, mature cottonwoods with shrub understory, shrubland,
and grassland [4].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Flowering and fruiting dates follow [31]:

                          flowering               fruiting

Umatilla gooseberry       April-May               May-July
Idaho gooseberry          May-June                June-July
inland gooseberry         May-June                June-August
northern gooseberry       May-June                June-August
Henderson's gooseberry    June-July               July-August

Ribes spp. seeds germinate in the spring [28].

Related categories for Species: Ribes oxyacanthoides | Northern Gooseberry