BLACK OR DARK PURPLE 179 



long, is readily distinguished from a grapevine, 

 which it somewhat resembles, by the axillary 

 position of flower and fruit cluster. It is 

 common along streams south to Georgia and 

 Arkansas. 



WILD GOOSEBERRY 

 Ribes Cynosbati Gooseberry Family 



Fruit. — The brownish red berry usually 

 grows singly. It is prickly, occasionally smooth, 

 and has numerous seeds with crustaceous coats 

 inclosed in gelatinous ones. The seeds are sus- 

 pended by tiny threads in a pulpy mass. The 

 berry bears at the summit the shriveled remains 

 of the calyx. The flavor is good, but the sharp, 

 awl-shaped prickles are objectionable. August. 



Leaves. — The three- to five-lobed leaves are 

 alternate or clustered. The base is heart-shaped, 

 and the lobes are incised or serrate. One or 

 more spines are usually found at the base of the 

 petioles. 



Floivers. — ThQ bell-shaped greenish flowers 

 grow singly or in a few-flowered raceme. 



This is a low shrub of rocky woods from New 

 Brunswick south, especially along the mountains, 



