CHAPTER VI. 



THE CURRANT. 



NATURAL FAMILY GROSSULACE^E. 



RIBES. THE CURRANT AND GOOSEBERRY. 



[French name, Oroseiller commun; German, Oemeine Johanrdsbeere ; Dutch, 

 Aalbesseboom ; Italian, Ribes rosso ; Spanish, Grossetta.} 



GENERAL CHARACTERS. 



Low, deciduous shrubs, with smooth stems ; leaves 

 variable, more or less lobed, in some species nearly heart- 

 shaped ; flowers small, greenish-yellow in the commonly 

 cultivated varieties, in others yellow, crimson, or white. 



SPECIES. 



Ribes prostratrum. Fetid Currant. Stems reclined; 

 leaves deeply heart-shaped, five to seven-lobed, smooth ; 

 fruit pale red. In cold, damp woods in most of the North- 

 ern States. 



Ribes floridum, Wild Black Currant. Leaves sprink- 

 led with resinous dots, slightly heart-shaped, three to 

 five*iobed, doubly serrate ; fruit round-ovoid, black, 

 smooth, with a slight musky flavor ; leaves also scented. 

 Common in low grounds throughout the Northern States 

 and Canadas. 

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