520 



In moist, low and boggy thickets, and in elevated woods, banks of 

 streams, &c., in various parts of the south of England, certainly indi- 

 genous in Sussex and Hants. Probably the only wild variety in the 

 south of Britain. 



2. Ribes rubrum, /3. sativum, Rchb. 



E. B. t. 1289 (very good figure from a wild specimen). See au- 

 thors quoted above. 



Larger than the last in its leaves and flowers, the latter especially, 

 which are concolorous, deeper green? (in cult.). Stamens a little 

 connivent, their filaments about equal in length to the breadth of the 

 anthers, the lobes of which are approximate in consequence of the 

 shortness of the connectivum, above the apex of which they rise. 

 Young leaves less downy, greener, and somewhat shining underneath. 

 Fruit deep red ? larger than in a. 



Mountainous woods, moist, bushy places, and banks of rivers and 

 streams in the north of England and Scotland. Everywhere in gar- 

 dens cultivated for its fruit. 



Other differences are noted by authors betwixt these two varieties, 

 but they do not appear to be constant (See Wimnler and Grab. Fl. 

 Sil.), such as the smaller size of the petals in a., with a degree of 

 hairiness on the racemes, well marked in some of my specimens which 

 are quite villous in this part. The dark colour of the disk, and above 

 all, the extreme shortness and peculiar form of the stamens, appear 

 the most permanent marks of distinction. The narrow anthers and 

 elongated filaments are clearly expressed in the E. B. figure of ^. 1 

 have little doubt that our wild southern variety is identical with the 

 "E,. fructu parvo" of Merrett and Ray's Synopsis, found at Wimbledon 

 and in Lancashire. 



These two forms of the red currant are widely dispersed over the 

 greater part of central and northern Europe, and in America, ranging 

 beyond the arctic circle in both hemispheres. The Swedish and 

 Lapland plant would seem to belong to our first variety. 



The flowering time of our wild currant seems to precede that of the 

 garden type, contrary to what we should expect, since the former 

 was, for the most part, in full bloom in its cool, damp, native situa^ 

 tions for some days previous to the date of these remarks (April 11th), 

 whilst the flowers of the latter are as yet but very partially expand- 

 ed in gardens open to the sun. This may, in some measure, account 

 for the discrepancy in time assigned by different authors to the blow- 

 ing of the red currant, some giving April, others May, as the blos- 

 soming season. In this island all the British species are out of 



