Gooseberry (Wild)

Stiff, spiny, deciduous shrub is native to central Europe and North America. It grows about 3 ft (1m) tall, with upright canes and small green leaves held at stiff angles from the stems. This species rarely fruits well in frost-free climates. There are many cultivars in a variety of sizes and shapes, bearing green, russet green or yellow green fruits.

Prickly Gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati) has smooth stems, with 1-2 weak prickles at nodes, berries covered with prickles, whereas wild Gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum) has smooth stems with 1-2 spines at leaf nodes, berries lack prickles. 

Gooseberries (Ribes family) are related to Wild Black Currant (Ribes americanum).

Gooseberries are nutritious, low-calorie fruits that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Though research on gooseberries specifically is limited, many of the nutrients in these berries have been linked to significant health benefits. These include lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels, as well as a reduced risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and age-related illnesses of the brain.

To treat a delayed menstrual period, boil the root into a drink (Dene Elder, published in Marles et al, p. 199).

The stem can also be boiled into tea to stop bleeding for mothers after childbirth (Métis Elder, published in Marles et al, p. 199), or mixed with other plants to teat sickness after childbirth (Leighton, 1985, as cited in Marles et al, 2012).