CHAP. LV. 



GROSSULA^CE^. R^BES. 



985 



diuretic, cordial, and tonic ; and a ratafia is made from it that promotes di- 

 gestion. The flavour and taste of the fruit being disagreeable to many, it 

 is still but partially cultivated in British gardens, more especially in England. 

 In Scotland it is held in more esteem, on account of the jelly that is made from 

 it being considered a sovereign remedy for sore throats. 



Properties and Uses. The leaves, the fruit, and the entire plant, especially 

 in a wild state, are considered powerfully diuretic ; in Siberia the leaves form 

 a principal ingredient in the drink known as quass ; and the berries being 

 fermented with honey, a powerful spirit is distilled from them. The leaves, 

 when young, are put into spirits, so as to give the liquor a brownish tinge like 

 that of brandy. An infusion of the young roots is given to cattle, in Russia, 

 as a febrifuge. The leaves, in a dried state, smell like green tea ; and a very 

 small portion of them will communicate that flavour so eflfectually to black 

 tea, as completely to deceive the taste. In the north of Russia, the berries 

 of both the black and the green varieties are gathered from the woods in large 

 quantities, dried in ovens, or in the sun, and laid up for being used in winter, 

 either medicinally for the quinsy, and other diseases of the throat, or for 

 making tarts. The fruit, whether fresh or dried, is also used in Sweden, and 

 other parts of the north of Europe, as a remedy for sore throats. In England, 

 the principal use of the fruit is for making a jam, or rob, which, like the jelly 

 made in Scotland, is considered excellent for sore throats ; but the fruit is 

 seldom used either in tarts or puddings, or for making wine. In Scotland, 

 the jelly is considered to add an excellent flavour to whisky and water. 

 The treatment of the black currant, as a fruit tree, will be found in the Eh' 

 ci/clop(sdia of Gardening, and in the Suburban Gardener. 



* 32. R. (n.) tri'ste Pall. The sad-co/owrfrf, or dark-blossomed, black 



Currant. 



Identification. Pall Nov. Act. Pet., 10. p. 378. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. 189. 

 Synoni/mc. H. alt^icum Lodd. Cat. 



Spec. Char., l^-c. Leaves 5-lobed. Branches simple, twiggy, bearing leaves 

 and racemes of flowers at the apex. Racemes pendulous, both when in 

 flower and in fruit. Corollas flattish, of a dull brownish-red on the outside, 

 and yellowish inside. Petals revolute. Berries small, black, insipid. Root 

 creeping, (Don's Mill., iii. p. 189.) A native of Siberia, on the Mongol 

 Mountains; growing 2ft. or 3ft. high, and flowering in April and May. 

 Introduced in 1820 ; and obviously only a variety of the common black 

 currant. 



S4 33. R. (n.) flo'ridum L'Hcrit. The flowery black Currant. 



Identification. L'Herit. Stirp., 1. p. 4. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. IPO. 



Synonymes. B. nigrum, 2. Lin. Sp., 291. ; 2i. pennsylv&nicum Lajn. Diet., 3. p. 49. ; R. recur- 



vJltum Michx. Ft. Bar. Amer.y 1. p. 109., according to Torrcy ; Ribisium nigrum, &c.. Dill. Elth., 



2 t. 244. f. 315. 

 Engravings. Dill. Elth., 2. t. 244. f. 31.') 

 fig. 135. 



Berl., 1. c, t. 2. f. 22. ; Schmidt Baum., t. 92. ; and our 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaves full of resinous glands, 

 3 or 5-lobed, cordate, doubly serrated. Ra- 

 cemes pendulous, pubescent. Bracteas linear, 

 longer than the pedicels. Calyx tubularly 

 campanulate, glabrous : with the segments 

 obtuse, and at length reflexed. Germens and 

 black berries oval-globose, glabrous. This is 

 in many respects nearly allied to R. nigrum ; 

 but its more copious and denser flowers, and 

 especially their long bracteas, and more tubular 

 calyxes, will always distinguish it : the solitary 

 pedicel, too, at the base of the flowers, is 

 wanting in this species. Petals oblong, rather 

 erose at the apex; greenish yellow. (Bon's 

 Mill, iii. p. 190.) A shrub, growing from 4 ft. 

 to 6 ft. high, and flowering in April and May. 

 Introduced in 1729. We admit the distinct- 



