SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 169 



12. RIBBS, CURRANT, GOOSEBERRY. (Name of uncertain origin.) 

 Low shrubs ; flowers spring ; fruit mostly edible. 



§ 1. Gooseberry. Stems commonly loith 1 or 2 thorns below the leaf- 

 stalks or the clusters of leaves, often mth mimeroxis scattered prickles 

 besides, these sometimes on the berry also. 



* Floicers 1-3 in a cluster. 



•*- Flowers red and showy. 



fi. specibsum, Pursli. Showy Flowering Gooseberry, of Cal. 



Somewhat cult, for ornament ; has small and shining leaves ; very 

 handsome flowers on a hanging peduncle, the short-tubular calyx, petals, 

 and long-projecting stamens deep red, so that the blossom resembles that 

 of a Fuchsia ; berry prickly, few-seeded. 



4- *- Flowers small and ^greenish. 



*-y Calyx lobes shorter than the tube. 



R. Cyndsbati, Linn. Has bluntly 3-lobed downy leaves, with slen- 

 der peduncles, stamens and undivided style not exceeding the broad calyx, 

 and large prickly (or rarely smooth) dull purple berry. Common N. 



++ ++ Calyx lobes conspicuously longer than the tube. 



R. Grossularia, Linn. European Gooseberry, but more or less 

 cult, here in several varieties, as Industry, Crown Bob, etc., is a stocky 

 bush with thickish leaves, a pubescent ovary and calyx, and a large, 

 usually finely pubescent fruit. 



R. oxyacanthoides, Linn. Parent of the American Gooseberries, 

 like Houghton and Downing, is seldom downy, with thinner leaves, very 

 short thorns or none; very short peduncles; stamens and 2 cleft style 

 scarcely longer than the bell-shaped, smooth calyx ; ovary and berry 

 smooth, the fatter medium-sized, either green or reddish when ripe. New 

 Eng. to N. J., W. 



R. rotundif61ium, Michx. Often downy-leaved ; peduncles rather 

 slender ; the slender stamens and 2-parted style longer than the narrow 

 calyx ; lierry smooth. Mass. and N. Y., S. 



* * Flowers several, in a nodding raceme. 



R. laciistre, Poir. Lake or Swamp G. Cold bogs and wet woods N. ; 

 low, with 3-5-parted heart-shaped leaves, their lobes deeply cut; very 

 small -flowers with broad and flat calyx ; short stamens and style, and 

 small bristly berries of unpleasant flavor. 



§ 2. Currant. No thorns or prickles, and the flowers numerous in the 



racemes. 



* Floicers greenish or whitish, small. 



■<- Leaves without resinous dots ; calyx flat and open ; berries red {or 



white). 



R. prostratum, L'Her. Fetid Currant. Cold woods N. ; with reclin- 

 ing stems ; deeply heart-shaped and acutely 5-7-lobed leaves ; erect ra- 

 cemes ; pedicels and pale-red berries glandular-bristly ; these and the 

 bruised herbage exhale an unpleasant, skunk-like odor. 



R. rubrum, Linn. Garden Currant. Cult, from Eu., with straggling 

 r reclining stems, somewhat heart-shaped moderately .3-5-lobed leaves ; 

 the lobes roundisli, and drooping racemes from lateral buds distinct from 

 the leaf buds ; edible berries red, or white ; also a striped variety. 



Var. 8ubglandul6sum, Maxim., a native form in cold swamps N., lias 

 the racemes clustered below the leafy tips of the canes. 



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