Is This Gooseberry?

[Farplace]

growing in a large patch in my wood. Is this gooseberry?

[The Woodman]

Looks good for Gooseberry to me, Jan.

[Littlesparrow]

I think it is, when I've grown gooseberries they have had the same vicious thorns on them.

[Farplace]

Thanks John and Annie. I thought it was, but I had some niggling doubts. What's it doing in my wood? Dont get me wrong, its welcome. Last year it was enjoyed by lots of birds and (I think) badgers.

[The Woodman]

I think you've answered your own question by saying that birds and Badgers like them!

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Farplace

What's it doing in my wood?

Our native wild Gooseberry - Ribes uva-crispa, is a very common plant of woods and hedgerows as this distribution map shows. It's spread by birds and found just about everywhere.

BSBI Maps Scheme: Hectad Map

Those berries look just right for eating, did you try a few?
Dorts.

[Farplace]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Those berries look just right for eating, did you try a few?
Dorts.

No I didn't.... but I will tomorrow!

[King Edward]

Gooseberry is thought to be naturalised rather than native - apparently it wasn't recorded in the wild until 1763 (which is rather inconsistent with it being a genuine native, given how common it is).

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by King Edward

Gooseberry is thought to be naturalised rather than native - apparently it wasn't recorded in the wild until 1763 (which is rather inconsistent with it being a genuine native, given how common it is).

Stace and Rose and most other authorities say, 'Probably native'.

Despite its 'probable native' status in Britain Gooseberry doesn't appear in the archaeobotanical record until the late Saxon/medieval period. It is suggested that domestication of the wild plants did not take place until the 16th century. There is, however, evidence of its use in the 13th century.
Dorts.

[Dorts]

Just out of interest, I notice Geoffrey Grigson in 'The Englishman's Flora' gives 26 different local names for Goosberry, including 'Goosegogs', which is what we called them as lads down in Hampshire.
Dorts.