SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 169 



12. RIBES, CLIRRANT, GOOSEBERRY. (Name of uncertain origin.) 

 Low shrubs ; flowers spring ; fruit mostly edible. 



§ L GoosERicuuv. Stems communhj u-ith 1 or 2 thorns beloio the leaf- 

 stalks nr the ctusters of leaves, often irith numerous scattered prickles 

 besides, these sometimes on the berry also. 



* Flowers 1-3 in a cluster. 



H- Fliiwers red and shuvy. 



R. specidsum, Pursli. Snowv Flowering (ioosERERUY, of Cal. 

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

 handsome flowers on a hanging i^eduncle, the short-tubular calyx, petals, 

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

 of a Fuchsia ; berry prickly, few-seeded. 



t- 4- Flowers small and (/reenish. 



-<■ Calyx lobes shorter than the tube. 



R. Cynosbati, Linn. Has bluntly o-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. Grossuldria, Linn. Euuopean Gooseuerry, but more or less 

 cult, here in several varieties, as Industry, Crown Boh, 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 Hoti.moN anil Downisc;, 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 latter medium-sized, either green or reddish when ripe. New 

 Eng. to N. J., ^Y. 



R. rotundif61iura, IMichx. Often downy-leaved ; peduncles rather 

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

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



* * Flowers several, in a noddiny raceme. 



R. laciistre, I'oir. Lake or Swamp (i. Cold bogs and wet woods N. ; 

 low, with .']-r)-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 floux'rs numerous in the 

 racemes. 



* Flowers yreenish or whitish, small. 



4- Leaves icithout resi)ious dots,- r<t}>rx llat and open; berries red (or 



wlii/e). 



R. prostr^tum, L'ller. Fetid Cirraxt. 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 

 or reclining stems, somewhat heart-shaped moderately o-5-lobed leaves ; 

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

 the leaf buds ; cdililc licrries red. or white ; also a strijied variety. 



Var. subglanduldsum, Maxim., a native form in cold swamps N., has 

 the racemes clustered below the leafy tips of the canes. 



