THE SMALL FRUITS OF NEW YORK 263 



Ribes petraeum. Wulfen in Jacquin Mwc. anstr. 2:36. 1781; Loudon i4r6. 2:979, 



fig. 727. 1844; Schneider ///. Hdb. Lanbh. 1:403. 1905; Ibid. 2:944. 1912; 



Janczewski Monogr. 290. 1907 & Suppl. 719-22. 1913; Rehder in Bailey Stand. 



Cyc. Hort. 5:2959. 1916; Bean Trees & Shrubs 2:409. 1921; Berger N. Y. Sia. 



Tech. Bid. 109:16. 1925. 

 R. bullatum. Otto & Dietr. Allgem. Gartenztg. 10:267. 1842. 

 R. petraeum var. bullatum. Janczewski Monogr. 293. 1907. 



Rock Currant. — Shrub 1-2 m high or more; growing shoots hirsute, generally glabrous 

 later on, and grajash brown; older branches somewhat like those of the cherry, with dis- 

 tinct warts; buds conical, deep brown. Leaves roundish, 3- to 5- lobed, lobes more or less 

 pointed, the middle one prominent, bullate between the veins, pubescent on both sides 

 when young, smoother later on, dark green above, beneath more or less pubescent, at least 

 along the veins, the base varying from deeply cordate to truncate, variable in size, 

 reaching up to 15 cm, more or less doubly toothed. Petiole generally shorter than the 

 blade, ciliate near the base. Racemes variably long, erect, patent or drooping, densely 

 flowered; rhachis and pedicels more or less pubescent, bracts small; pedicels short, 

 mostly twice as long as the bracts. Flowers green, suffused with purple, subcampanidate. 

 Receptacle cup-shaped, or slightly bell-shaped, with a round hump below the insertion 

 of each petal; sepals roimdish spatulate, broader than long, spreading in their upper part, 

 finely ciliate; petals rather large, spatulate or fan-shaped, as long as the erect base of the 

 sepals; stamens inserted below the petals, ctirved with a thickened base, the anthers 

 roimdish ovoid, overtopping the petals. Ovary semi-inferior, its upper part conically 

 prolonged and gradually passing in the shortly cleft style, which is about as high as the 

 stamens. Ovary top-shaped. Fruits round, flattened at the poles, red or blackish red, 

 with the remains of the flower roundish, acidulous. 



Europe, northwestern Africa {Atlas), and northern Asia. Perhaps as 

 far as the Sea of Ochotsk. High mountains. The European plants of 

 this species occur in three forms. 



(a) forma: pyrenaica. 



Leaves rugose, with scattered long hairs above, along the margin, and beneath along 

 the veins, especially hairy when yoxmg; lobes pointed, teeth with a sharp and rather long 

 cusp; petioles pubescent, with long spreading glandular hairs, especially when young. 

 Bracts strongly ciliate. 

 Pyrenees. 



(b) forma: alpina. 



Leaves rugose, with scattered hairs, etc., like in f. pyrenaica, though less abundant, 

 also the petioles less hairy and glandular. Bracts shorter, obtuse, less strongly ciliate. 

 Alps, Vosges, and Black Forest. 



(c) forma: carpathica Kit. Berger N. Y. Sta. Tech. Bui. 109:16. 1925. 



R. carpathicum. Kitaibel in Schultes Oesterreich. Flora, 2nd Ed. 1:432. 1814. 

 Leaves flat, almost glabrous on both sides, also beneath along the veins, only when 

 young with a few scattered hairs; lobes pointed, teeth less sharply mucronate than in f. 



