112 KEY AND FLORA 



VII. RIBES L. 



Shrubs. Leaves palmately veined and lobed, sometimes with 

 stipules. Calyx tube egg-shaped, its 6 epigynous lobes 'usually 

 colored like the petals. Petals 6, small, generally inserted on 

 the throat of the calyx tube. Stamens 6, inserted with the 

 petals. Styles 2 ; ovary 1-celled, with 2 placentae on its walls, 

 becoming in fruit a pulpy (usually eatable) berry. 



1. R. Cynosbati L. Prickly Wild Gooseberry. Spines in 

 pairs. Leaves long-petioled, downy, heart-shaped, cut-dentate. The 

 single style and the stamens not projecting from the calyx tube. 

 Berries generally prickly, brownish-purple, pleasant-flavored. 



2. R. gracile Miohx. Slender Gooseberry. Spines slender, 

 solitary, or in pairs or threes. Leaves with slender petioles, some- 

 what downy when young, round, the base truncate or obtuse, 3-5- 

 lobed, the divisions obtuse and toothed Flowers often in threes, 

 white or greenish, drooping. Calyx lobes longer than the tube; 

 stamens decidedly projecting from the tube. Berries smooth, red- 

 dish-purpl«. Dry or i-ocky soil W. 



3. R. rotundifolium Michx. Smooth Wild Gooseberry. Spines 

 few and short, prickles few or absent. Leaves roundish, lobed, with 

 the lobes crenate-dentate, often downy. Peduncles slender ; flowers 

 inconspicuous. Calyx lobes reflexed. Styles and stamens projecting 

 decidedly from the calyx tube. Berries smooth. 



4. R. oxyacanthoides L. Northern Gooseberry. Spines usually 

 solitary, often numerous. Leaves petioled, their lower surfaces and 

 petioles commonly downy. Flowers 1-3 together, on short pedicels, 

 greenish-purple or white. Berry |-^ in. in. diameter, smooth, reddish- 

 purple. Low grounds and damp woods N. 



5. R. floridum L'Her. Wild Black Currant. Branches thorn- 

 less, erect. Leaves resinous-dotted, somewhat heart-shaped, 3-5-lobed, 

 toothed. Flowers large, whitish. Calyx tubular-bell-shaped, smooth. 

 Fruit round-ovoid, black, smooth. In woods. 



6. R. vulgare Lam. Red Currant. Stems more or less reclining. 

 Leaves somewhat heart-shaped, obtusely 3-5-lobed. Racemes droop- 

 ing. Limb of the calyx wheel-shaped. Berries acid, eatable, red 

 or light amber-colored. Cultivated from Europe ; also somewhat 

 naturalized. 



7. R. aureum Pursh. Golden Currant, Flowering C, Mis- 

 souri C, Clove C. A much taller shrub than the common red 

 cui-rant. Leaves 3 -lobed, toothed. Racemes short and loose. Tube 

 of the yellow calyx much longer than its limb. Flowers very fra- 

 grant. Fruit brownish-black, barely eatable. 



