HerbalEGram: Volume 11, Issue 5, May 2014

Researchers in Florida are developing conservation strategies for a rare species of gooseberry (Ribes echinellum) commonly known as the Miccosukee gooseberry. With only two known remaining habitats in Jefferson County, FL, and McCormick County, SC, the plant is classified as federally threatened and population numbers continue to dwindle.¹

Eric J.B. von Wettberg, PhD, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University, posits that genetic variation among the existing plants is the key to conserving the Miccosukee gooseberry.² In a study published in the February 2014 issue of Conservation Genetics, a team of scientists from Florida International University and Miami University examined the genetic variation present in the current plant populations to assess the Miccosukee gooseberry’s chance of survival.¹ In small, isolated populations, active conservation greatly increases the odds of saving the plant from extinction, as management can maintain genetic diversity and lower the risk of inbreeding, thereby minimizing risk of extinction. Because the Miccosukee gooseberry reproduces asexually, a lower rate of genetic variation already exists, making conservation efforts even more vital. (Sexual reproduction via pollination of flowers would decrease the risk of inbreeding, which can be detrimental to growth and seed production, i.e., as a result of the asexual reproduction via the development of new plants from stolons [horizontal stems], roots and/or rhizomes.)²

Botanical common names can be confusing, and so it is with plants known as “gooseberries.” The Miccosukee gooseberry is a true member of the genus Ribes, a genus that also includes redcurrants (Ribes rubrum) and blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) in the family Grossulariaceae. Other plants called gooseberries that fall outside of the genus Ribes include the following plants from four different genera and families: Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), also known as amla, which has traditional use in Ayurvedic medicine³; Chinese gooseberry (Actinidia deliciosa), which was commercially re-branded as kiwifruit, its current widespread common name, in 1974; Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) native to South Africa and a close relative of the tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica); and Barbados gooseberry (Pereskia aculeate), native to Central and South America.⁴

American Indians of the Miccosukee tribe used the Miccosukee gooseberry primarily as a food product, but traditional medicinal applications of a variety of North American gooseberry species made use of the seeds, leaves, and fruits.^1,5 Seed oil is a source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid with antioxidant properties. Tannins in the leaves are the source of the plant’s astringent properties, making it beneficial for cleaning wounds. Many plants in the genus Ribes also are traditionally used for uterine issues. Native Americans of the Potawatomi tribe used Eastern prickly gooseberry (R. cynosbati) as a gynecological aid for uterine trouble, and the Cree tribe made an infusion of Canadian gooseberry (R. oxyacanthoides) stems for postpartum illness.⁶ GLA and preparations containing relatively high levels of the omega-6 fatty acid have been used in recent decades for managing symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome and menopause. The fruits of the plant are used as a laxative and for inflammation, and also are enjoyed for culinary purposes in pies, wines, and preserves.⁵

According to a survey conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Miccosukee gooseberry faces external threats as well, primarily from habitat loss in Florida, since the current population grows on privately owned land. Invasive plant species including Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), and Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum) threaten the gooseberry in both Florida and South Carolina. In South Carolina, deer browsing could also be causing population decline.⁸

Due to the low overall genetic diversity of R. echinellum, the species may not have the ability to survive changes in its environment, including climate change and the extinction of animals that may have aided the plant’s growth by spreading seeds and cultivating its preferred growing area.² The gooseberry’s continued survival now depends on maintaining a stable population, and conservationists are proactively working to increase the genetic variation that currently exists.

—Hannah Bauman

References

1. Oleas NH, Wettberg EJB, Negrón-Ortiz V. Population genetics of the federally threatened Miccosukee gooseberry (Ribes echinellum), an endemic North American species. Conserv Genet. 2014. Available here. Accessed April 17, 2014.
   
   
2. Perez E. Researchers outline plan to save threatened gooseberry. Phys.org. April 3, 2014. Available here. Accessed April 17, 2014.
   
   
3. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Phyllanthus emblica. Available here. Accessed April 30, 2014.
   
   
4. Morton JF. Fruits of Warm Climates. Winterville, NC: Creative Resource Systems, Inc; 1987.
   
   
5. Lim TK. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Volume 4, Fruits. London, UK: Springer; 2012.
   
   
6. Moerman DE. Native American Ethnobotany. Portland, OR: Timber Press; 1998.
   
   
7. Tilford GL. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing; 1997.
   
   
8. Negrón-Ortiz V. Ribes echinellum (Miccosukee gooseberry) 5-year review: summary and evaluation. Panama City, FL: US Fish and Wildlife Service; 2008. Available here. Accessed April 18, 2014.