CHAPTER YI 



THE CURRANT. 



NATURAL FA^riLY GROSSULACK^. 



RIBES.— The Currant and Gooseberry. 



[French name, GroseMer commun; German, Gemdne JoMnrdsbeere ; Outco, 

 Ainlbesseboom ; Italian, Bibes rosso ; Spanish, Grossella.] 



GENERAL CHARACTERS. 



Low, deciduous shrubs, with smooth stems ; leaves 

 variable, more or less lobed, in some species nearly heart- 

 shaped ; flowers small, greenish-yellow in the commonly 

 cultivated varieties, in others yellow, crimson, or white. 



SPECIES. 



Ribes prostratrum, — ^Fetid Currant.— Stems reclined; 

 leaves deeply heart-shaped, five to seven-lobed, smooth ; 

 fruit pale red. In cold, damp woods in most of the North- 

 ern States. 



Ribes floridumi — Wild Black Currant. — Leaves sprink- 

 led with resinous dots, slightly heart-shaped, three to 

 five-lob ed, doubly serrate ; fruit round-ovoid, black, 

 smooth, with a slight musky flavor ; leaves also scented. 

 Common in low grounds throughout the Northern States 

 and Canadas. 

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