56 SPRING FLOWERS. 



flowers small, yellowish-green; fruit red, angular, opening at 

 the angles and exposing a brilliant orange-coloured arillus, 

 which envelopes the seeds. — Hedges and thickets. Fl. May. 



(51) Montia. Blinks. 



M. fontana : subaquatic, annual ; leaves opposite, obovate 

 or spathulate ; flowers white, inconspicuous. — Water Chick- 

 weed. — By rills and in springy places. Fl. April, May. 



(52) Ribes. Currant. 

 * Branches without prickles. 



R. rubrum : shrub ; leaves palmately 3-5-lobed, inodorous ; 

 flowers complete, greenish, in pendulous racemes, the stalks 

 all short ; berries smooth, red or white. — Common Currant. — 

 Mountainous woods. Fl. April, May. 



R. nigrum : shrub ; leaves palmately 3-lobed, strongly 

 scented ; flowers complete, greenish, in pendulous racemes, the 

 lower stalks longer than the upper ones ; berries smooth, black. 

 — Black Currant. — Cool shady thickets. Fl. April, May. 

 ** Branches armed with prickles. 



R. Grossularia : shrub ; leaves palmately 3-5-lobed, in- 

 odorous ; flowers greenish, hanging, the peduncles 1-2-flow- 

 ered ; berries yellowish, oblong, much varied by cultivation, 

 smooth or hairy. — Gooseberry. — Thickets. Fl. April, May. 



(53) Arctostaphylos. Bearberry. 



A. Uva-ursi : shrub ; leaves evergreen, obovate, entire, 

 shining; flowers ovate, rosy, in short drooping terminal 

 racemes ; berries bright red. — Mountain heaths. Fl. May. 



A. alpina : shrub ; leaves withering, rugged, serrated ; flow- 

 ers ovate, white, in terminal drooping clusters or racemes, 

 berries black. — Mountain heaths. Fl. May. 



