750 



GROSSULARIACE^E. 



[Epigvnous Exogexs. 



Order CCLXXXVII. GROSSULARIACEiE.— Currantworts. 



Grossulariea?, DC. Fl. Fr. 4. 406. (1804) ; Kunth Nov. G. et Sp. 6.58.; DC. Prodr. 3. 477. ( 1828) ; Spach 

 in Ann. 8e. ser. 2. loin. !. p. 16.— Ribesine, Ach. Rich. Hot. Med.2. 487. (1823).— Grossulacese, Mirb. 

 Elem. 2. 897. fl815>.— Ribesiaceae, Endl. Gen. clxxi. (1839). 



Diagnosis. — Grossal Exogens, with pulpy fruit and parietal placenta. 



Shrubs, either unarmed or spiny. Leaves alternate, lobed, with a plaited vernation, 

 often with a membranous edge to the base of the petioles. Flowers in axillary racemes, 

 with bracts at their base, rarely uni- 

 sexual by abortion. Calyx superior, 

 4- or 5-parted, regular, coloured, im- 

 bricated, or somewhat valvate in aesti- 

 vation. Petals 5, minute, inserted in 

 the throat of the calyx. Stamens 5, 

 inserted alternately with the petals, 

 very short. Ovary 1 -celled, with 2 

 opposite parietal placentae ; ovules nu- 

 merous, on short stalks, anatropal ; 

 style 2-3-4-cleft. Berry crowned with 

 the remains of the flower, I -celled ; the 

 cell filled with pulp. Seeds numerous, 

 suspended among the pulp by long fili- 

 form cords ; testa externally gelatinous, 

 adhering firmly to the albumen, which 

 is horny ; embryo minute, with the 

 radicle next the hilurn. 



Notwithstanding the great dissimi- 

 larity in the appearance of these plants 

 and Indian Figs, the two Orders were 

 formerly confounded, and are still ac- 

 counted by many writers conterminous, 

 chiefly on account of their both having 

 inferior pulpy fruit and parietal pla- 

 centae. Von Martius, however, (Con- 

 spectus, No. 222,) abandons this view, 

 and stations them somewhere between 

 Saxifrages and Onagrads. In conse- 

 quence of their copious albumen, polypetalous flowers, and definite stamens, I 

 formerly disposed to bring them into the neighbourhood of Berberries and their allies ; 

 but the strictly epigynous structure of the flowers weakens this resemblance. That 

 they stand near Escalloniads seems undoubted, and therefore they form a transition to 

 Cranberries, another Order in close contact with Escalloniads, but stationed in the Ciu- 

 chonal Alliance because of its monopetalous corolla. The close alliance between 

 Currantworts and Escalloniads is most distinctly shown by the genus Polyosma, which 

 agrees with the former in its two polyspermous parietal placentae, and with the latter in 

 the high development of its corolla. Mr. Bennett even places it among Escalloniads. 



They are natives of the mountains, hills, woods, and thickets of the temperate parts 

 of Europe, Asia, and America, but unknown in Africa. In North America they are 

 particularly abundant, and on the mountains of Northern India they contribute to give 

 a European character to that remarkable region. In the tropics of Asia and the South 

 Sea Islands they occur in the form of Polyosma, a genus which derives its name from 

 the excessive fragrance of its flowers. 



The properties of the Gooseberry and Currant are those of the generality of the 

 Order, except that in other species a mawkish or extremely acid taste is substituted for 

 the refreshing and agreeable flavour of the former. Some are said to be emetic and 

 intoxicating (R. inebrians), but this statement rests on no good authority. The black 



was 



Fig. I).— Ribes rubrura. 1. perpendicular section of a flower; 2. cross section of the ovary ; 3. seed; 

 1. a perpendicular section of it. 



