7 6 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



wild in woods and hedges in many parts of 

 the British Islands. It has small palmate and 

 more or less lobate leaves, small green flowers, 

 single or in pairs, and is set with numerous strong 

 thorns, standing singly, or two or three together. 

 The fruit of the cultivated Gooseberry is much 

 larger, and is sometimes smooth, as in the variety 

 figured, or else hairy. It varies in colour, shape, 

 and size, being sometimes round, sometimes oval, 

 and either green, yellowish green, or red. 



Three species of Currant (two red and one black) 

 are found wild in the British Islands. They differ 

 from the Gooseberry in being destitute of thorns, 

 and in the fruit growing in clusters. The leaves 

 are larger than in the Gooseberry. 



Mountain Currant — Ribes alpinum 



(Plate XLII) 



This species has trilobate leaves, with the under- 

 surface smooth and shining, and erect flower-clusters, 

 with lanceolate bracts, longer than the flower-stalks. 

 The flowers are often dioecious. In the male 



flowers the stamens are perfectly developed, but 

 the ovary is absent. In the female flowers the 

 stamen is absent, but the style is complete. The 

 corolla is greenish white, and the berries are 

 round, bright red, and flavourless. This shrub 

 grows in the north of England, but is not very 

 common. 



The Red Currant {Ribes rubruni) resembles the 

 last species, but the flowers are perfect, the leaves 

 are larger, and the bracts are oval. The flowers are 

 larger and yellower, and the berries are red, grow 

 in larger bunches, and have much more flavour. 

 The cultivated White Currant is considered to be 

 a variety of this. Both this species and the next 

 are found in woods in many parts of the British 

 Islands. 



The Black Currant (Ribes nigrum) has numerous 

 glands on the under-surface of the leaves, which 

 emit a strong and peculiar scent when bruised. 

 The bracts are subulate, the calyx-tube is bell- 

 shaped, and the corolla is reddish. The berries 

 are black, and have a peculiar flavour, somewhat 

 resembling the scent of the leaves. 



