GROSSULACEAE 91 



135. m m :s. L. 



[An andent Arabic name, of obscure meaning.] 



Stamens short, often included. Styles 2, more or less united. Ripe 

 seeds enveloped in a gelatinous coat. 



* Stems more or less aculeate; peduncles 1- to 3-flowered. 



1. R. UvA-CRispA, L. Stem diffusely branching; berries solitary, 

 oval, large, smooth, or hairy. 

 Goose-berry. 



Stem 2 to 3 feet high. Leaves an inch or inch and half in length, and as wide 

 as long, 3- to 5-lobed ; petioles shorter than the leaves, often margined. Peduncles 

 solitary or in pairs, often hracteate near the middle. Flowers pale greenish-yel- 

 low. Berries pendulous, greenish amber-color, when mature. 

 Hob. Gardens, Ac. Nat. of Europe. Fl. April. Fr. July. 



* * Stems not aculeate ; flowers in racemes. 



*J. R. RUBBUM, L. Stems slender, erect, sparingly branched; ra- 

 cemes smooth ; calyx rotate ; berries globose, mostly red. 

 RED RIBES. Red Currant. 



Stems 2 to 4 feet high, growing in bunches, or clusters from the root. Leaves 1 

 to 2 or 3 inches long, rather wider than long, obtusely 3- to 5-lobed; petioles about 

 as long as the leaves. Racemes from lateral buds, distinct from the leaves; bracts 

 ovate. Flowers greenish-yellow. Berries sometimes peaily white. 

 Hob. Gardens, &c. Nat. of Europe. Fl. April. Fr. June. 



3* R. NIGRUM, L. Leaves resinous-dotted beneath ; racemes hairy ; 

 calyx tubular-campanulate ; berries roundish-ovoid, black. 

 BLACK RIBES. Black Currant. 



Stems 3 to 5 feet high, in clusters from the root. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, nearly 

 as wide as long, 3- to 5-lobed; petioles shorter than the leaves. Racemes usually 

 with a distinct single-flowered peduncle at base; bracts subulate. Flowers pale 

 yellowish-green, the petals sometimes changed into stamens, or staminodia. 

 Berries purplish black. 

 Hob. Gardens, Ac. Nat. of Europe. Fl. April. Fr. July. 



4. R. floritlum, L. Leaves resinous-dotted on both sides; ra- 

 cemes retrorsely pubescent; calyx tubular; berries ovoid-oblong, 

 black. 

 FLOWERY RIBES. Wild Black Currant. 



Stems 3 or 4 feet high, several from the root ; branches often recurved. Leaves 

 1 to 2 inches in length, and as wide as long, acutely 3-lobed ; petioles longer than 

 the leaves, margined, and fringed or pubescent-ciliate near the base. Racemes 

 about 3 inches long ; bracts lance-linear. Flowers pale greenish-yellow. 

 Hob. Sandy banks; road-sides, &c.: frequent. Fl. May. Fr. July. 



Obs. This is nearly allied to the Garden Black Currant. Two 

 American species (from the far West) are cultivated as ornamental 

 shrubbery; viz. R. aureum, Ph. or Missouri Currant, with yellow 

 flowers of spicy clove-like fragrance, and R. sanguineum. Ph. with 

 deep crimson flowers. 



ORDEK XL. CUCURBITA^CEAE. 



Herbaceous, mostly succulent vines, with tendrils; leaves alternate, palmately 

 veined or lobed; flowers monoicous (sometimes dioicous); calyx-tube adherent to 



