144 SAXIFRAGES. [Ribes. 



seeded. Seeds horizontal, testa with a gelatinous coat, raphe free, albu- 

 men adhering to the testa ; embryo minute. — Distrib. N. temp, regions 

 and Andes of S. America ; species 56. — Etym. Ribs, in Danish. 



Section 1. Grossula'ria. Brandies spinous. Leaves plaited in bud. 

 Peduncles 1-3-fld. 



1. R. Grossula'ria, L. ; leaves orbicular 3-5-lobed. Gooseberry. 

 Copses in various counties ; indigenous only in N. England, where it ascends 



to 1,000 ft. ; fl. April-May. — A small spreading shrub with 1-3 spines under 

 the leaf -buds. Leaves 1-2 in. diam., fascicled on short lateral branches, 

 lobes irregularly crenate. Flowers J in., greenish, drooping, proteranderous ; 

 peduncle short, pubescent, 1-3-bracteate about the middle. Calyx-lobes 

 reflexed, purplish, throat and stamens bearded. Petals white, erect, minute. 

 Fruit |-1 in.— Distrib. Europe, N. Africa, W. Asia, N.W. Himalaya. 

 R. Uva-crispa, L., the small form with glabrous fruit, is that found wild in 

 Europe most commonly. 



Section 2. Ribe'sia. Branches not spinous. Leaves plaited in bud. 

 Racemes many-fid. 



2. R. alpi'num, L. ; dioecious, leaves deeply 3-5-lobed coarsely serrate 

 almost glabrous and shining beneath, racemes glandular erect in flower and 

 fruit, bracts exceeding the pedicels. 



"Woods in the N. of England, probably indigenous ; not so in Scotland ; fl. 

 April-May. — A small all but glabrous bush ; branches slender. Leaves 1^-2 

 in. diam., broadly ovate, lobes usually 3 acute cut and serrate, slender petiole 

 and both surfaces sparingly hairy. Racemes glandular-pubescent; male 

 2-2| in., 20-30-flowered ; female shorter, 8-10-flowered. Flowers £ in. 

 diam., yellowish, females greener; bracts linear. Petals much shorter than 

 the calyx-lobes. Styles very short, cleft. Fruit J in. diam., globose, scarlet, 

 insipid. — Distrib. Europe, N. and "VV. Asia, N. America. 



3. R. ru'brum, L. ; leaves 3-5-angled and -lobed, base cordate, lobes 

 triangular crenate, racemes eglandular drooping in fruit, bracts shorter 

 than the pedicels. Wild Currant. 



"Woods and thickets ; indigenous in N. England and the Highlands ; ascends to 

 1,000 ft. in Yorkshire ; fl. April-May. — Leaves 2-4 in. diam., glabrous or 

 pubescent above, usually tomentose beneath ; petiole pubescent or setose. 

 Racemes 1-3 in., many-flowered, pubescent or glabrous, never glandular ; 

 bracts ovate. Flowers J in. diam., homogamous. Calyx glabrous, limb flat. 

 Petals minute. Fruit £ in. diam., red, acid.— Distrib. Europe, N. and W. 

 Asia, N.W. Himalaya, N. America. 



R. ru'brum proper (R. sylves'tre, Reichb.) ; leaves hairy above tomentose 

 beneath, raceme pubescent usually suberect in flower and drooping in fruit, 

 flowers purplish, filaments very short, fruit contracted at the top, pedicels 

 equalling or exceeding the fruit. Vars. Smithia'na and L'romfieldia'na, 

 Syme. -R. petrce'um, Sm. not Wulfen. — Var. R. spica'tum, Robson, leaves 

 hairy above when young and tomentose beneath, racemes erect in flower 

 and fruit. Yorkshire and Skye. — Var. sati'va, Reichb., the cultivated 



