496 © - | THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
dilated petiole at the base. The flowers are arranged in bunches or 
clusters,—axillary in the species destitute of spines; solitary, or at 
least less numerous, in species thus armed. Calyx monosepalous, 
in five divisions. Corolla with five free petals, alternating with 
the sepals. Stamens, five and perigynous, are opposed to the sepals. 
Their filaments are free, their anthers bilo- 
cular, opening from either by two longitudinal 
slits. The pistil consists of an inferior 
ovary, surmounted by two short styles with 
\/\ \ obtuse stigmata. In the interior of the ovary, 
H |) which is unilocular, are two placenta, charged 
i\|,| with numerous ovules placed horizontally and 
'/ anatropical. The fruit is a berry (Fig. 442), 
crowned by the persistent limb of the calyx 
and the dried-up petals. The seeds are en- 
closed, and the integuments become gelatinous 
externally, internally crustaceous, contain an 
albumen, hard and nearly horny, and very abundant, at the base 
of which is found a very small, straight embryo. ‘ 
Many species of Ribes are 
cultivated in gardens as 
ornamental plants, such as 
Fig. 442.—The Gooseberry. 
the deep red cluster of 
latter being extremely beau- . 
tiful. Others are cultivated : 
for their fruit, such asthe 
gooseberry, which we have _ 
described, the currants, ret 
and white, both varieties of 
R. rubrum, and the black a 
currant (R. nigrum), both of 
which throw out clusters of = 
grateful berries, which are 
utilised by careful house- a 
wives, when ripe, bei the. 
fruit of which jellies and other preserves are made. The ar 
Fig. 443.—Branch and flower of the White Currant. 
The first, 
R. aureum, R. sanguineum, — 
“3 flowers thrown out by the 
