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. 



Flowers. The 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, 



