750 



GROSSULARIACEJ^. 



[Epigynous Exogens. 



Order CCLXXXVII. GROSSULARIACEiE.— Currantworts. 



Grossularieae, DC. Fl. Fr. 4. 406. (1804) ; Kunth Nov. G. et Sp. 6. 58.; DC. Prodr. 3. 477. (1828) ; Spach 

 in Ann. Sc. ser. 2. torn. 4. p. 16.— Ribesiae, Ach. Rich. Bot. Med. 2. 487. 11823).— Grossulaceae, Mirh. 

 Elem. 2. 897. (1815).— Ribesiacese, Endl. Gen. clxxi. (1839). 



Diagnosis. — Grossal Exogens, with pulpy fruit and parietal placentce. 



Shrubs, either unarmed or spiny. Leaves alternate, lobed, with a plaited vernation, 

 often with a membranous edge to the base of the petioles. Flowers in axillai'y racemes, 

 with bracts at theu' base, rarely iini- 

 sexual by abortion. Calyx superior, 

 4- or 5-parted, regular, coloured, im- 

 bricated, or somewhat valvate in esti- 

 vation. Petals 5, minute, inserted in 

 the tliroat of the calyx. Stamens 5, 

 inserted alternately with the petals, 

 very short. Ovary 1 -celled, ^^•ith 2 

 opposite parietal placenta ; ovules nu- 

 merous, on short stalks, anatropal ; 

 style 2-3-4-cleft. BeiTy crowned with 

 the remains of the flower, 1 -celled ; the 

 cell filled with pulp. Seeds numerous, 

 suspended among the pulp by long fili- 

 form cords ; testa externally gelatinous, 

 adhering firmly to the albumen, which 

 is homy ; embryo minute, with the 

 I'adicle next the hilum. 



Notwithstanding the great dissimi- 

 larity in the appearance of these plants 

 and Indian Figs, the two Orders were 

 formerly confounded, and are still ac- 

 counted by many waiters contermmous, 

 chiefly on account of their both ha%ing 

 inferior pulpy fruit and parietal pla- 

 centae. Von Martius, however, (Con- 

 spectus, No. 222,) abandons this \iew, 

 and stations them somewhere between 

 Saxifrages and Onagrads. In conse- 

 quence of their copious albumen, polj'petalous flowers, and definite stamens, I was 

 formerly disposed to bring them into the neighbomiiood of Berbei-ries and their allies ; 

 but the strictly epigynous structm-e of the flowers weakens this resemblance. That 

 they stand near Escalloniads seems undoubted, and therefore they form a transition to 

 Cranberries, another Order in close contact with Escalloniads, but stationed in the Cin- 

 chonal Alliance because of its monopetalous corolla. The close aUiance between 

 Currantworts and Escalloniads is most distinctly shown by the genus Polyosma, which 

 agrees with the former in its two polyspermous parietal placentae, and with the latter in 

 the high development of its corolla. Mr. Bennett even places it among Escalloniads. 



They are natives of the movmtains, hiUs, woods, and thickets of the temperate parts 

 of Europe, Asia, and America, but unknowii in Africa. In North Ameiica they are 

 particularly abimdant, and on the mountains of Northern India they contribute to give 

 a European character to that remarkable region. In the ti'opics of Asia and the South 

 Sea Islands they occur in the form of Polyosma, a genus which derives its name from 

 the excessive fi'agrance of its flowers. 



The properties of the Gooseberry and CmTant are those of the generahty of the 

 Order, except that in other species a mawkish or extremely acid taste is substituted for 

 the refreshing and agreeable flavour of the former. Some are said to be emetic and 

 intoxicating (R. inebrians), but this statement rests on no good authority. The black 



Fig. D.— Ribes rubrum. 1. perpendicular section of a flower ; 2. cross section of the ovary ; 3. seed ; 

 4. a perpendicular section of it. 



Fig. D. 



