CALYCIFLOR^ 217 



with a flat limb. The calyx-segments are broadly 

 spreading, inversely ovate, twice as long as the petals. 

 The petals are very small. The berries are red when 

 ripe, acid. 



The Red Currant flowers early in April and May, 

 and fruits in June and July. It is a deciduous shrub, 

 from 3 to 5 ft. high. 



The anthers and stigma are ripe together. The 

 flowers are yellowish- white or green. The flowers are 

 flat and wide open, fairly conspicuous. The honey 

 can be readily obtained by all classes of insects, such 

 as Hymenoptera, including the hive-bee. An insect 

 touches the anthers with one side of its head, when 

 it presses it into the flower, and the stigma with the 

 other. As the flowers are pendulous the honey is 

 protected, and pollen may fall on the stigma so that 

 there are even chances of cross- or self-pollination. 

 Seed is usually set. 



The fruit, being an edible berry and attractive, red 

 when ripe, is dispersed by birds. 



Currant is so named after the small grape of 

 Corinth, or grocer's " currants." Ribes is an Arabic 

 name for a kind of Rhubarb. The wild currant has 

 been cultivated for a long period. 



Garnet-berry, Gazels, Red Gooseberry, Gozill, 

 Raisin Tree, Raspberry, Rizzles, Russles, Wine- 

 berry, are names by which the plant is also known. 



RiBES RUBRUM. — In Fig. 43 the foliage is shown 

 and also the frnit. 



