KEY TO THE GROSELLES 445 



Flowers 5 -parted, except in a single species, in which they are 

 commonly 4 -parted. Calyx tube coherent with the ovary, often 

 extending beyond it; lobes commonly colored like the petals. 

 Petals small, borne on the throat of the calyx, alternating with the 

 stamens. Ovary 1-celled, with 2 parietal placentae, and 2 distinct 

 or united styles. Fruit a berry, crowned with the shriveled re- 

 mains of the calyx. 



Name of uncertain origin, thought by some to be from riebs, a 

 German name used for the currant. 



The genus is primarily a North American one. Of the thirty 

 species mentioned by Dippel,* sixteen are North American, eleven 

 are natives of the eastern hemisphere, and one is found in both, 

 while two to which he gives specific names are probably hybrids. 

 While of especial importance as a fruit -producing genus, some of 

 its species have decided value as ornamentals. 



A. Stems with 1-3 thorns below the clusters of leaves, often 

 with numerous scattered prickles on the branches, some- 

 times upon the berry also. Leaves plaited in the bud. 

 (Gooseberries.) 

 B. Flowers red and showy, mostly 4 -parted; stamens long, 



exserted; berry small, currant-like. No. 1. 

 BB. Flowers 5-parted; calyx mostly recurved or reflexed at 

 flowering time, later erect; stamens more or less or 

 not at all exserted. Berry many seeded, 

 c. Calyx tube campanulate or cylindraceous ; peduncles 



few- flowered. 

 D. Anthers sagittate, mucronate- pointed. Nos. 2, 3, 



4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. 

 DD. Anthers oval or roundish, blunt. 



E. Stamens much longer than the petals 



p. Flowers conspicuous; calyx lobes broad and 



showy, dark purple -red. No. 11. 

 FF. Flowers inconspicuous; calyx lobes small 

 and slender, white, greenish white, or 

 sometimes purplish. Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15, 

 16. 

 EE. Stamens little or no longer than the petals. 



F. Ovary and berry unarmed and glabrous. Nos. 



17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. 



FF. Ovary and berry armed with prickles, or rough 

 and glandular hairy. Nos. 24, 25, 26, 27. f 



* Handbuch der Laubholzkunde 3 -.281-308. 



