Gooseberry

Gooseberry (Ribes grossularice), a well-known fruit-bearing shrub, native to Nepaul, Western Asia, North Africa, the mountains of Crete, Central and Northern Europe, as far north as lat. 63°, in Norway, and in the North of England. The name "gooseberry" and the French groseille are probably derived from the German krausbeere, whilst the provincial name, "feaberry," indicates the value formerly attached to its cool acid fruit in cases of fever. The plant differs from the allied species of Ribes, the currants, in its spinous stems and in its flowers being produced singly or two or three together, and not in a raceme. It has long been cultivated, and many hundred sorts have been raised, with fruit either hairy, downy, or smooth (vanr. Uva-crispa), round or oval, green, yellow, or red. The acidity of the green fruit is due mainly to malic acid. It is largely used for tarts. When ripe the fruit contains from 6 to 8 per cent. of sugar, and is used for dessert and jam. The shrub suffers much from attacks of insects, especially the larvae of the beautiful magpie moth (Abraxas grossulariata) and that of the V-moth (Halias vanaria).