GOOSEBERRY FAMILY 



Calyx. Coherent with the ovary ; tube bell-shaped, slightly 

 contracted at mouth, five-lobed ; lobes roundish, shorter than 

 the tube, green sometimes touched with red ; when mature lobes 

 recurve against the tube. 



Petals. Five, minute, green, obscurely three-lobed, obovate, 

 borne on the calyx-tube, alternate with the calyx-lobes. 



Stamens. Five, inserted in the calyx-tube, slightly included, 

 opposite the calyx-lobes ; filaments and anthers green, converg- 

 ing to the stigma. 



Pistil. Ovary one-celled, adnate to calyx ; style relatively 

 large, undivided, hairy at base ; stigma capitate. 



Fruit. Berry, globose, several - seeded, brownish purple, 

 prickly, rarely smooth, one-half an inch in diameter, crowned 

 with the remains of the calyx ; of a pleasant flavor. August. 



The Prickly Wild Gooseberry is a common under- 

 shrub in northern woods. It reaches the height of 

 four feet and defends itself from man and beast by 

 the many prickles on the lower part of the stems. 

 Sometimes, however, the stem is entirely smooth save 

 for the spines at the base of the leaves. The flowers 

 are little green bells, rich in nectar, borne on slen- 

 der one to three-flowered peduncles. The fruit is a 

 brownish red berry, covered with prickles like a bur, 

 though occasionally smooth. Reports from the Ar- 

 nold Arboretum state that seedlings from the same 

 plant may produce either smooth or prickly fruit. 

 The berries when mature are sweet and pleasant, but 

 the prickles are often very sharp. This is the com- 

 monest wild gooseberry east of the Mississippi River. 



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