Bailey &c Bailey: Woody Plants of National Parks 85 



away with no such stems attached. Some species of gooseberry have spiny 

 berries but the currant fruits are either smooth or merely glandular-hairy. 



Ribes species are widely variable in their habitat preferences. Some favor 

 moist shaded sites along streams in the forests while others prefer dry sunny 

 hillsides. Certain species occur at low altitudes in semi-desert areas while 

 others grow at high altitudes near timberline. The herbage of several species 

 is browsed to some extent by deer and elk. The berries are an important 

 source of food for many birds and small animals, and were gathered and 

 dried by the Indians. Even today, berries of some of the better-flavored 

 species are collected by local residents for pies, jams and jellies. 



Currants and gooseberries are of particular interest in those parks where 

 five-needled white pines occur because of an introduced fungus disease, white 

 pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) , which has become prevalent over much 

 of the western United States. The currant and gooseberry bushes act as 

 alternate hosts to this fungus which attacks and kills the white pines. In 

 areas where western white pine (Pinus ynoiiticola) or any other five-needled 

 pine is an important forest tree the more susceptible species of gooseberry 

 and currant are being removed. This destruction of the Ribes interrupts the 

 life cycle of the rust and Ls the only practical method known for controlling 

 the disease and saving the white pines. 



Field Guide to the Species 

 A. Stems without spines or prickles; fruits falling from the branchlets 



WITHOUT stems ATTACHED. 



Flowers saucer-shaped or shallowly cup-shaped, about j/4 inch across; leaves J/2 to 

 10 inches across. 



Plants erect or spreading (sometimes more or less reclining in R.. laxiftorum) ; 

 berries purple-black. 



Leaves large, up to 10 inches across; flower-clusters becoming 5 to 9 inches 



long; flowers greenish I. R. bracteosum. 



Leaves smaller, J/2 to 5 inches across; flower-clusters 1 to 4'/ 2 inches long; 

 flowers while or purplish. 

 Berries smooth, gland-dotted but not hairy; flowers white. 



Leaves with petioles often longer than the blades; flower-clusters 

 2 to 4J/2 inches long; found in parks of the Northwest 

 2. R. petiolare. 



Leaves with jDetioles shorter than the blades; flower-clusters 1 to 



2J/2 inches long; found on Isle Royale 



3. R. hudsonianum. 



Berries covered with gland-tipped hairs; flowers purplish, the petals 



red 4. R. laxiftorum. 



Straggling shrubs with prostrate or reclining stems; berries red. 



Leaves l'/2 to 4 inches across, 3- to 5- (or 7)-lobed; flowers white, pink- 

 ish, or purplish; found at Mount Rainier or on Isle Royale. 



Flowers white or pinkish, borne along slender erect stems; berries with 



gland-tipped hairs , 5. R. glandulosum. 



Flowers purplish, borne along slender nodding stems; berries smooth 



6. R. Irisle. 



