gooseberry

Hardy fruit bush of the Northern Hemisphere, often placed in the genus Ribes with the currant (or alternatively assigned to the genus Grossularia as its sole member), in the family Grossulariaceae. The spiny bushes bear clusters of greenish to greenish pink flowers. The tart, oval berries may be prickly, hairy, or smooth. They are eaten ripe and often made into jellies, preserves, pies and other desserts, or wine. Because gooseberry is an alternate host for white-pine blister rust, growing it is illegal in some states where white pine is an important resource.

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