The Shrubs of Wyoming. 15 



The western gooseberry is very common along streams and 

 creeks and in moist draws in the hills throughout the state. 

 The berries are often gathered and used for pies and sauce. 

 Douglas, an early explorer, says of this gooseberry : "Of all 

 the species which came under my observation during my jour- 

 neys in America, this is the finest in the flavor of its berries, as 

 well as in their size." On rich river bottoms it is often very 

 productive. In view of its fine berries and great vigor of the 

 plant this gooseberry is well worthy of domestication. It is 

 closely akin to the northern gooseberry (Ribes oxyacanthoides 

 L.) of Canada and the Eastern States, which is the parent of 

 our American gooseberries like the Houghton and Downing. 

 Transplanted to the home garden into good soil it would un- 

 doubtedly produce a superior quality of fruit. 



Swamp Gooseberry (Ribes parvulum (A. Gray) Rydb.) 



A densely prickly shrub of wet woodlands and swamps. The 

 leaves are smooth, deeply lobed and toothed, three-fourths to 

 two inches broad. It has small saucer-shaped flowers which 

 are purplish or greenish white and borne in drooping clusters. 

 Its berries are dark purple or black when ripe and are beset with 

 reddish bristles. 



This shrub is common on the wet, shaded banks of our moun- 

 tain streams. It does not appear to be of any horticultural 

 value. This and the one following are peculiar in being inter- 

 mediate between the gooseberries and currants, the berries be- 

 ing in clusters as in the garden currant, while the branches bear 

 spines and prickles as in the gooseberries. 



Mountain Gooseberry (Ribes lentum Jones). 



A low shrub growing in open rocky slopes in the high moun- 

 tains. Spines are present, but the older stems and often also 

 the young branches are devoid of prickles. It has red berries 

 of a very agreeable flavor. This gooseberry may prove to be 

 of some value for its fruits. 



-(2) 



