RHYACOPHILA. 



RIBBR 



A C'opaUina, Gum-Copal or Maatich-Leaved Rhua, Leaf glabrous 

 above, slightly pilose beneath, 6-7 pain of leaflet* and aii odd one, 

 lanceolate and entire; petiole winged and jointed; root creeping; 

 flowers yellowUb-greeu, dioocious. It is a native of North America 

 from New Jersey to Carolina. 



R. ratticaiu, Kootiug Poison-Oak, or Sumach. Leaf one pair of 

 leaflet* and an odd one, odd one petiolated, glabrous, entire. A native 

 of America from Canada to Georgia. IU climbing habit, combined 

 with the beautiful red colour of the leaf during the decline of the year, 

 renders it one of the most picturesque of American plants. It fre- 

 quently abounds in the forests, where it may be seen covering the tops 

 of the highest trees. It climbs up walls and rocks, and runs upon the 

 ground with equal facility, thus covering everything within the reach 

 of iU stems. 1 )e Candolle distinguishes three varieties : K. rulgarit, 

 with a stem climbing by means of roots; R. rolubilis, climbing without 

 roots; and R. microearpo, with fruit much smaller than the other 

 two. Like the following species, it emits a juice which indelibly 

 sUins linen. It is equally poisonous with R. renenata. A detailed 

 account of the effects of the poison of the genus Ithui may be seen in 

 Professor Kalm's ' Travels in North America.' 



R. taficodemlrm, Common Poison-Tree, or Poison-Oak. Leaf of 

 one pair of leaflets and an odd one, with a petiole, inciso-angulate, 

 pubescent ; flowers greenish. It is found in woods, fields, and fences, 

 in common with the last-named species, in North America, where 

 they are both known by the same name. Many botanists consider 

 the two only varieties of the same plant This species U the typo of the 

 genus Toxicodauiron of Tournefort. It was introduced into England 

 in 1640, and first grown in the Bishop of London's garden at Fulham. 

 This species is that which is most frequently used in medicine. 

 [.SUMACH, in ARTS AND Sc. Div.] 



The lex* common species of this genus cultivated in Britain are 

 K. pumila (Dwarf Sumach), K. viridijlora (Green-Flowered Sumach), 

 R. paUaphylta (Five-Leaved Sumach), R. uaveolent (Sweet-Scented 

 Sumach), and R. aromatica (Aromatic Sumach). 



KHYACOl'HILA. [NKCROFTERA.] 



KHYXCH.KA. [ScoLOPACtbA] 



KHYNCHASPIS. [DUCKS.] 



1UIYXCHITE8. [CtJBCCUo.1 



UHYN'CHOCINETES. [PAI.KMO.VIDJB.] 



liHYNCHOLITES. [NAUTILIDJS.] 



UH YXCHOSAUHUS, a genus of Fossil Reptiles. It was found in 

 the New Red-Sandstone of Grinsill in Warwickshire. (Owen.) 



RHYNCO'SPORA, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural order 

 Cy /tracer. It has few-flowered spikelete, 6 or 7 glumes, the lower 

 one* empty or smaller ; about 6 bristles ; the nut compressed, convex 

 on both sides, crowned with the dilated base of the style. There are 

 two British species ; R. alba, not uncommon on turfy bogs, and R.futca, 

 a rare species found in the south-west of England and in Ireland. 

 (Uabington, Manual of Britiik Botany.) 



ItH YPHID.E, a family of Dipterous Insects called False Crane-Flies. 



KMY/OI'HYSA. [ACALEFUA] 



HI BAND FISH. '[QTMSETBCS.] 



KIBES (a name formerly given to a species of Rheum), a genus of 

 IlanU forming the natural order Grouvlarvuxte. As this genus is the 

 only one in the order, its characters, geographical range, and affinities 

 are described with the order. It is well-known as producing the 

 Currant and Gooseberry, and also for affording many of the ornamental 

 shrubs of our gardens. 



Da Candolle divides the genus Riita into four sections, of which the 

 following is an analysis : 



Shrubs with prickles : 



Peduncles 1-2-3-flowered. . flrottularia, 

 Peduncles many-flowered . . otrycarpvm. 



Shrubs without prickles : 



Calyx campanulate . . Kibetin. 

 Calyx tubular . ... Symphocaiys. 



* Orouularia. 



This section includes some handsome shrubs, as well as the species 

 which produces the common Gooseberry. Of these we shall notice a 

 few that are most commonly found cultivated in this country. 



K. Oxyccnlkmda, Hawthorn-Leaved Gooseberry. Prickles infra- 

 axillary, solitary; Irave* glabrous, lobes dentate; peduncles short, 

 bearing 1-2 greeniah white flowers. It U a native of rocky districts in 

 Canada, and bean a fruit very much resembling that of the common 

 gooseberry both in appearance and taste. Like many other described 

 spteiM of large genera, it ban been supposed to be referrible to a more 

 common form, the /.'. ghualana. 



R. mrau*. Snowy Flowered Gooseberry. Prickles solitary, in pairs 

 or three* ; leave* glabrous, roundish, entire at the base : flowers two 

 together in peduncles ; sepal* reflexed ; stamens longer than the 

 style. It grow* to the height of 4 or 6 feet It was found on the 

 north-west coast of America by Mr. Douglas, who sent the seeds to 

 England in 1826. The fruit k%bout the nize of a black currant, of a 

 deep red-purple colour. It is said to be of a superior flavour to the 



A Cfnotbali, Dog-Bramble Gooseberry. Infra-axillary prickles 1-2 ; 



leaves 3-4, lobed, pubescent; calyx campanulate, cylindrical; petals 

 shorter than stigma and stamens ; berry prickly. This plant is found 

 in Canada, according to Punb, and was discovered in India by Roylc, 

 and in Japan by Thuubcrg. It differs little from another well known 

 species, K. diraricatum, which has the tube of the corolla somewhat 

 narrower and the stamens longer. Two varieties of this plant are 

 recorded : one with smooth fruit, a native of Hudson'* Bay ; the other 

 with prickly branches and fruit, shorter peduncles, pubescent purplish 

 flowers, from Lake Huron. 



R. grouuiaria, Common Gooseberry. This plant is too well known 

 to require any description here, and is probably the parent of many 

 of the other recorded species of Riba. It is found wild in almost 

 every part of England and Scotland, growing on old walls, in hedges 

 and woods, although a question might be raised as to its being abori- 

 ginal in this island. It seems to be truly indigenous in France, 

 Germany, and Switzerland ; and according to Dr. Koyle, is found in 

 the Himalayas and on the banks of the Ganges. It has also been teen 

 growing in North America, on rocks near the Falls of Niagara. 



This plant does not appear to have been known to the ancients ; 

 and the earliest author who mentions it is Mattbiolus, an Italian 

 botanist It was recorded as existing in England by Turner, Parkin- 

 son, and Gerard ; but Ray is the earliest writer who mentions it as a 

 cultivated species. The Dutch were the first to cultivate the goose- 

 berry successfully, but even up to the time of Miller it seems to have 

 gained very little repute in England as a fruit for the table. From 

 its extensive cultivation, it has received a great variety of names. In 

 Cheshire and the north of England it is called Feaberry, in Norfolk 

 Feabes, both of which names are corruptions of Fever-berry, an, 

 according to Gerard, it was at one time considered a specific against 

 fevers. Grozzer is a common name for it in Scotland, which seems to 

 be derived from the French name Groseille a Macquereau, which is 

 again derived from the Latin Orouularia, and the use of the fruit as a 

 sauce with mackerel. Its common name, 'gooseberry,' is derived 

 from gorse-berry, because its prickles resembled those of the furze or 

 goree. Some derive this name from its berries being used as saucj 

 for geese. [GOOSEBERRY, in Anra AND Sc. Div.] 



There are numerous varieties of this plant recorded, which chiefly 

 vary in extent, size, and number of their prickles, and in the shape 

 and size of their fruit and flowers. 



** Bolrycarpum. 



This section includes four species intermediate between gooseberries 

 and currants : they are however called by the former name. R. 

 orientalt, Eastern Gooseberry, with yellow green flowers, blowing in 

 April and May. It in a native of Syria. R. laxatUe, Rock Gooseberry, 

 a native of Siberia, with greenish-purple flowers. 



R. diacantha, Twin-Prickled Gooseberry. It flowers in May and 

 June, having yellowish flowers and cuneated leaves. It grows wild in 

 Dauria and other part* of Siberia. R. lacuttrit, Lake-Gooseberry, n 

 native of moist places in Canada and Virginia, with flowers like a 

 currant and prickles like a gooseberry. 



Ribeiia, 



This section includes the greater number of the Currants, of which 

 there are about 40 species. 



Jt. rubrum, the Common Red Currant. The name Currant teems 

 to be derived from the similarity of the fruit to the Corinth Raisin, 

 or small grape of Zaute, which are commonly called Corinth's, or 

 Currants. This last is too well known to need a description. It is a 

 native of Europe and Siberia, and the northern parts of North 

 America, to the mouth of the M'Kenzie, and is found in mountainous 

 districts in the north of England and Scotland. Like most plantu 

 tbat are easily disseminated and occupy varied elevation, latitude, and 

 soil, this species is subject to many varieties. Of those seven have 

 been recorded by De Candolle, which vary in the shape, size, and 

 covering of their leaves, as well as the size and colour of their fruit 

 The writer of the article ' Ribes,' in London's ' Arboretum et Fruti- 

 cetum Britannicum,' observes, " The Common Red Currant is com- 

 monly treated by botanists as a distinct species, but we have no doubt 

 whatever that R. pctnrum, R. tpicatum, R. alpinwn, R. proitratum, and 

 several other botanical specie* are essentially one and the same thing. 

 We have arrived at this conclusion from the study of the plants in the 

 very excellent collections of this genus which are in the garden of 

 the Horticultural Society of London, and in the arboretum of the 

 Messrs. Loddiges." 



The Currant is not mentioned by Greek and Roman writers, but it 

 is scarcely possible that its beautiful red and sweet berries should 

 have been neglected by tho people amongst whom they grew. In 

 France they were cultivated long before the Gooseberry, but wore. 

 first produced in perfection by the Dutch. Gerard mentions that 

 they were cultivated in gardens in his time. [CURRANTS, in ARTS AND 

 Sc. Div.] 



R. nii/rum, the Black Currant. Flowers whitish or yellowish-green. 

 Calyx a rich brownish-red or pink colour. The stamens and petals 

 frequently present a remarkable peculiarity: the usual number of 

 each is 5, but should either the petals or stamens be increased iu 

 number the other is diminished ; thus, if there nre 7 stamens there 

 will be but 3 petals, and if there are 10 stamens there will be no 

 petals, and vice versa. The peculiar strong smell of the leaves of this 



