May 31, 1912 



59 



ALPINE PLANTS— IX 

 By p. Beveridge Kennedy 



Alpine Currant 

 RiBES inebrians Lindl. Bot. Reg. /»/. 1471- 1832. 

 We are glad to be able to illustrate from a photograph this 

 much-named currant. The revision of the genus Ribes by Co- 

 ville and Britton in North American Flora indicates that the 

 plant has been given eight different names between the years 

 1832 and 1907, by about as many European and American bot- 

 anists. 



Figure 6. Ribes inebrians Lindl. 



It is a remarkable shrub in that it occurs higher on the 

 mountain than any other form of vegetation except lichens. 

 The roots penetrate deeply into the crevices of the lava rocks, 

 enabling it to withstand the fierce winds. The flowers, which 

 appear in August, are white shading to pink, and the red ber- 

 ries, which are not especially palatable on account of their in- 

 sipid taste and numerous seeds (9 to 14), are abundant in Sep- 

 tember. The photograph was taken on Mt. Rose, Washoe 

 county, Nevada, at an elevation of 10800 feet. 



