Flower ID: IMG_1632.JPG-06-01-2019 Flower name (scientific): Ribes missouriense Nuttall PY: 1840. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) RYE-bees miss-oor-ee-EN-sis Flower name (common): Missouri Gooseberry Family name (common): Gooseberry Family name (scientific): Grossulariaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From ribas, Persian for acid-tasting, i.e. bitter tasting. Specific epithet: Of or from Missouri. Common name origin: Missouri, for a habitat where this species is widespread. Gooseberry from goose + berry. As to the etymology of gooseberry, it is useful to recall from the OED the obervation: "The grounds on which plants and fruits have received names associating them with animals are so commonly inexplicable ...". No part of this plant resembles a goose in any way. It is sometimes reported that gooseberry is a corruption from various French, Dutch and German words, but the evidence for this seems slim, hence the term, folk etymology. Best to regard this as a case for origin uncertain. Flower description: Size: 0.3 to 0.7 inches (0.8 to 1.8 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, None Plant description: Size: 36 to 72 inches (91 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed Size: Leaves up to 3 to 5 cm long and wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, palmately lobed (3-5 major)(IL), palmatifid, broadly obovate to broadly ovate in outline (MP) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): April to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Forests, woods, fields, meadows, thickets, streambanks, sun or shade, dry to moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Click for pollinator information on this flower. Similar species (if any): Ribes cynosbati (Prickly Gooseberry) is similar, but can be distinguished by its very spiny, green to pale red fruit, whereas the globose fruit of Ribes missouriense has no prickles, i. e. a smooth surface that turns from green to a purple color at maturity, and has longer more slender flowers. Ribes hirtellum (Swamp Gooseberry, Northern Gooseberry) has some resemblance, but its flowers are yellow-green, whereas those of Ribes missouriense are white. Ethnobotany: The Winnebago used the berries as a food source (Gilmore, p. 84, 1919). Gilmore uses the old synonym name Grossularia missouriensi for this plant. The Dakota, Lakota, Omaha, and Ponca also used the berries as a food source (Moerman, pp. 479, 1998). Moerman also indicates the Chippewa (Ojibwa) employed this as a food source with the citations giving Ribes gracile as the plant name. However, the Plants of the World Online database does not indicate that this name is a synonym for Ribes missouriense. Hence the use by the Chippewa should be regarded as not verified, but the widespread distribution of this plant in Wisconsin would make it somewhat surprising that the Chippewa were unaware of this plant. Latitude: 44.797612 Longitude: -91.503850 Altitude: 244.80 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AR, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, VA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (ON) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): Not listed Wetland Status (MW): Not listed