Ribes velutinum

Desert Gooseberry is a spreading, often rounded shrub 1-2 m tall, with slender branches that arch. Branches have single stout spines and no bristles. Leaf blades are thickish, with 3-5 deep lobes, and smooth to finely hairy surfaces on both sides. The infloresence of 1-2 flowers is borne at the leaf axils and is shorter than the leaves. Flowers have a tubular or slightly bell-shaped form with a hairy calyx and are less than 8 mm long. Both calyx lobes and petals are white or yellowish, and calyx lobes are almost twice as long as the petals. The dry globose berry is reddish and smooth.

Distinguished from the other species of RIBES with single stout spines by the flowers are less than 8 mm long and copiously pubescent, and the leaves are 3 (5)-cleft for well over half their length. A hand lens and technical key may be needed for positive identification.