SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 169 



12. RIBES, CURRANT, GOOSEBERRY. (Name of uncertain origin.) 



Low shrubs ; flowers spring ; fruit mostly edible. 



1. GOOSEBERRY. Stems commonly with I or 2 thorns below the leaf- 

 stalks or the clusters of leaves, often with numerous scattered prickles 

 besides, these sometimes on the berry also. 



* Flowers 1-3 in a cluster. 

 -- Flowers red and showy. 



R. speciosum, Pursh. SHOWY FLOWERING GOOSEBERRY, of Cal. 



Somewhat cult, for ornament ; has small and shining leaves ; very 

 handsome flowers on a hanging peduncle, the short-tubular calyx, petals, 

 and long-projecting stamens deep red, so that the blossom resembles that 

 of a Buchsia; berry prickly, few-seeded. 



-t- - Flowers small and [greenish. 

 ** Calyx lobes shorter than the tube. 



R. Cyndsbati, Linn. Has bluntly 3-lobed downy leaves, with slen- 

 der peduncles, stamens and undivided style not exceeding the broad calyx, 

 and large prickly (or rarely smooth) dull purple berry. Common N. 



** *-* Calyx lobes conspicuously longer than the tube. 



R. Grossu/dria, Linn. EUROPEAN GOOSEBERRY, but more or less 

 cult, here in several varieties, as INDUSTRY, CROWN BOB, etc., is a stocky 

 bush with thickish leaves, a pubescent ovary and calyx, and a large, 

 usually finely pubescent fruit. 



R. oxyacantholdes, Linn. Parent of the American Gooseberries, 

 like HOUGHTON and DOWNING, is seldom downy, with thinner leaves, very 

 short thorns or none; very short peduncles; stamens and 2 cleft style 

 scarcely longer than the bell-shaped, smooth calyx ; ovary and berry 

 smooth, the latter medium-sized, either green or reddish when ripe. New 

 Ens. to N. J., W. 



R. rotuiidif61ium, Michx. Often downy-leaved ; peduncles rather 

 slender ; the slender stamens and 2-parted style longer than the narrow 

 calyx ; berry smooth. Mass, and N. Y., S. 



* * Flowers several, in a nodding raceme. 



R. laciistre, Poir. LAKE or SWAMP G. Cold bogs and wet woods N. ; 

 low, with 3-5-parted heart-shaped leaves, their lobes deeply cut ; very 

 small flowers with broad and flat calyx ; short stamens and style, and 

 small bristly berries of unpleasant flavor. 



2. CURRANT. No thorns or prickles, and the flowers numerous in the 

 racemes. 



* Flowers greenish or whitish, small. 



t- Leaves without resinous dots; calyx flat and open; berries red (or 

 white). 



R. prostratum, L'Her. FETID CURRANT. Cold woods N. ; with reclin- 

 ing steins ; deeply heart-shaped and acutely 5-7-lobed leaves ; erect ra- 

 cemes ; pedicels and pale-red berries glandular-bristly ; these and the 

 bruised herbage exhale an unpleasant, skunk-like odor. 



R. rubrum, Linn. GARDEN CURRANT. Cult, from Eu., with straggling 

 or reclining steins, somewhat heart-shaped moderately 3-5-lobed leaves ; 

 the lobes roundish, and drooping racemes from lateral buds distinct from 

 the leaf buds ; edible berries red, or white ; also a striped variety. ' 



Var. siibglandul63um, Maxim., a native form in cold swamps N., has 

 the racemes clustered below the leafy tips of the canes. 



