Ribes.] XXXI. RIBESIACER, 165 
Asia by the A. petreum, Frequent in Scotland, the north of England, and 
occurs also in some parts of southern England and Ireland, but it has been 
so long and so generally cultivated, that it is difficult to say how far it is 
really indigenous. 7. spring. A variety with more upright racemes has 
been falsely referred to the Continental 2. petreum, and another with the 
flowers almost sessile has been distinguished as A. spicatum. 
3. R. alpinum, Linn. (fig. 372). Mountain Ribes.—Very near R. 
rubrum, but the leaves are smaller, more deeply divided, smooth and shin- 
ing, and glabrous underneath; the flowers much smaller and always 
dicecious; the males rather numerous, in little, erect racemes, of 1 to 
4 inches; the pedicels slender, but not quite so long as the bracts; the 
females, on separate shrubs, much fewer together, in very short racemes, 
and often almost sessile; the berries small and tasteless. 
In rocky, hilly districts, in central and southern Europe and Russian 
Asia; not an alpine plant, notwithstanding its name, but said to extend to 
rather high northern latitudes; it may not, however, always have been 
properly distinguished from 2. rubrum. Rather scarce in Britain, pro- 
bably indigenous in the north of England, but not so in Scotland; it 
does not extend into the Highlands, nor is it recorded from Ireland. 7. 
spring. 
4, R.nigrum, Linn. (fig. 373). Black Ribes, Black Currant. — 
Easily known from the peculiar smell of the leaves when rubbed, arising 
from the small, glandular dots, copiously sprinkled on the under side. 
Stem unarmed. Leaves rather larger than-in &. rubrum, more cordate, and 
usually with only three broad, crenate lobes, coarse and rough, but scarcely 
hairy. Racemes pendulous, looser than in the &. rubrum, the flowers 
larger, campanulate, on longer pedicels, of which the lowest, arising from 
the very base of the raceme, are much longer than the others. Calyx 
rather hoary outside. Berries black. 
In woods, in northern, central, and eastern Europe, and Russian and 
central Asia, but less common in western Europe than the last two species. 
In Britain, although found in cool, shady places, and boggy thickets, in 
_ various parts of England and Scotland, yet it is very doubtful whether it be 
truly indigenous, as, like the Gooseberry and the Currant, its cultivation 
dates from a very early period. If anywhere wild it is in the Lake district 
and Yorkshire. Fl. spring. 
XXXII SAXIFRAGACEH, THE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY. 
Herbs, or, in exotic genera, trees or shrubs, with alternate 
or opposite leaves, and no stipules. Calyx free, or more or 
less adherent to the ovary, with 4 or 5 (rarely more) lobes or 
segments, Petals as many, perigynous or none. Stamens as 
many, or twice as many (rarely more), perigynous. Ovary 
either adherent or inserted on a broad base, either 2- or 
4-celled, or 1-celled, with 2 or more parietal placentas, often 
lobed at the top, with as many (rarely twice as many) styles or 
