GROSSULACE^E. 135 



above the ovary none. Stamens numerous, shorter than the 

 petals. Style cylindric, contracted at base. Stigmas many, 

 erect, thick. Berry ovate, umbilicate at the apex," tubercu- 

 late and often bearing spines. Icosandria. Monogynia. 



0. vulgaris DC Cand. : stems erect or procumbent, destitute of pro- 

 per leaves, articulately proliferous ; articulations compressed, ovate ; 

 spines setaceous ; flowers large, sessile on the margin of the joints ; 

 fruit succulent, smooth. Cactus opuntia Linn. 



HAB. Dry rocks and sandy soils. N. Y. to Car. and W. to Miss. 

 June, July. 2_f . Flowers yellow, sessile. Fruit pulpy and eat- 

 able. Seeds numerous, immersed in the crimson pulp. 



Prickly Pear. 



ORDER LVI. GROSSffLACE^E. Lind. 

 Calyx 4 5-cleft, regular, coloured. Petals 4 5, minute, 

 inserted in the throat of the calyx. Stamens 4 5, inserted 

 alternately with the petals, very short. Ovary 1-celled ; style 

 2 4-cleft. Berry crowned with the remains of the flower, 

 1-celled ; the cell filled with pulp. Seeds numerous, suspend- 

 ed among the pulp by long filiform funiculi ; embryo minute, 

 with the radicle next the hilum ; albumen corneous. 



Shrubs either unarmed or spiny. Leaves alternate, lobed. 



1. RIBES. Linn. 



Calyx campanulate, 5-cleft. Petals 5. Stamens 5, rare- 

 ly 6 ; filaments free. Style 1 4 cleft. Berry 1-celled, ma- 

 ny-seeded. Pentandria. Monogynia. 

 * Stem without thorns. RIBESIA. 



1. R. albinenium Mich. : unarmed ; leaves short, acutely lobed, 

 smoothish ; nerves white ; racemes recurved ; berries smooth. 



HAB. Catskill mountains. N. Y. April, May. "??. Flowers 

 small, greenish-yellow. Berries red. Pursh. 



2. JR. trifidum Mich. : unarmed ; leaves moderately lobed, smooth 

 above, pubescent beneath ; racemes loose, pubescent ; flowers rather 

 flat, with the segments of the calyx somewhat 3-cleft ; petals spatu- 

 Jate, obtuse ; berries hairy. 



HAB. Mountains. Penn. April, May. Pursh. T?. Branches 

 weak. Leaves with subacute lobes. Carol purple. Berries red. 



3. JR. rigens Mich. : unarmed ; branches straight ; leaves on long 

 petioles, acutely lobed and dentate, reticulate-rugose, pubescent be- 

 neath ; racemes loose, many-flowered, becoming stiffly erect ; seg- 

 ments of the calyx obovate, obtuse ; berries hispid. 



HAB. Mountains. N. S. May, June. 1>. Racemes few-flower- 

 ed, erect. Calyx and corol purple. Berries red, hispid. 



Mountain Currant, 



