Fl. of Oxf. p. 66. — Perry’s PI. Varv. Select®, p. 22. — Bab. FI. Bath. p. 18. — Irv. 
Loud. Fl. p. 198. — Mack. Catal. of PI. of Irel. p. 25 ; Fl. Hibern. p. 108. — Kibes 
vulgaris fructu rubro, Ray’s Syn. p. 456.— Johnson’s Gerarde, p. 1593. 
Localities. — In mountainous woods, especially in the North of England, and 
in Scotland. — Oxfordshire ; Magdalen College Water-Walks : Dr. Sibthorp. 
Shotover Plantations: W. B. — Berksh. In a hedge near Childswell Farm, by 
the road from S Hinksey ; and on pollard willows in Bagley Wood : W. B. — 
Cambridgesh. Linton; between Bourn-bridge and Abington, in an island a 
little above the Sluice: Rev. R. Relha tf.— Cumberland ; Hedges near Whin- 
side Hill, Ullock Moss, and elsewhere about Keswick, perhaps native: H. C. 
Watson, Esq. in N. B. G. Eden, in Whinfield Park and Culgaith: N. B. G. — 
Devon ; Bagtor Wood, llsington ; Banks of the river Culm : Rev. W. Hinks. 
Lizwell Wood, Widdecome in the Moor: Rev. A. Nick. Banks of the river at 
North Bovey : Fl. Devon. Hedges about Barnstable: N. B. G. Woods and 
hedges nearBampton: Miss Bliss. — Durham; Woods and banks of rivulets; 
in Teesdale, near Eglestone : Rev. J. Harriman. — Kent ; High and Harrison’s 
Rocks: Fl. Ton. — Leicestersh. Woods near Stanton : Bobart, in Ray's Syn. 
— Norfolk; Not uncommonly naturalized: Hist. Yarm. Stow Wood: Miss 
Bell, in N. B. G. — Northumbl. In Hulne Woods, near Alnwick Mr. J. Da- 
vison. — Somerset ; Naturalized in hedges, not unfrequently : C.C. Babinoton, 
Esq.— Warwicksh. Banks of the Avon near Warwick: Rev. W. T. Bree. 
Side of the Avon between Warwick and Emscote: Mr. W. G. Perry. In the 
hedge on the right hand side of the foot-path going from Rugby, between the 
Mill and Newbold-upon- Avon : 1831, W. B. — Worcestersh. In the deep dingle 
of a wood at Hailstone Hill, near Suckley ; also in a ravine at Cliflon-on-Teme, 
between that place and St. Catherine’s Well. In the deep glen of a wood at 
(Lickeyl): E. Lees, Esq. in N. B. G. — Yorksh. Banks of the Swale, Richmond: 
J. Ward, in N. B. G. Mill Island; Birkbeck’s Weir ; Wood near Clayton's 
Budge; and Settle: N. J. Winch, Esq. — SCOTLAND. Argylesh. Islay, 
among brushwood on the banks of the Sound : Lighifoot. — Berwicksh. In 
deans, on the sites of deserted mills and cottages : Dr. Johnstone, in Fl. Berw. 
— Edinburghsh. Woods on Corstorphine Hill, and other places, probably sown 
by birds: 11. C. Watson, Esq. in N. B. G, — Fifesh. Culioss Woods: Mr. 
JMauciian. — Lanarksh. Avon banks opposite Barncluilh, perfectly wild, and 
in woods and by sides of rivers : N. B. G. — 1 RF.L AN D. Naturalized in many 
parts of the county of Cork : Mr. J. T. Mackay. 
Shrub. — Flowers in April and May. 
Stem bushy, upright, smooth, with a deciduous cuticle. Leaves 
alternate, on long, fringed petioles, bluntly 3- or 5-lobed, doubly 
serrated, smooth above, somewhat hairy beneath, usually rather 
downy when young. Racemes drooping, simple, stalked. Braclcas 
egg-shaped, small, solitary under each pedicel, often with a pair of 
small ones near the flower. Calyx yellowish-green, cup-shaped, 
nearly fiat, segments blunt. Petals very small, inversely heart- 
shaped, yellowish. Berries globular, quite smooth, red and shining, 
each crowned with the withered flowers. 
This species is a native of Europe and Siberia, in woods ; and throughout 
Canada to the mouth of the Mackenzie. In a wild stale the berries aie red, but 
cultivation has produced white and pale red berries. Meiirett, in his Pinna;, 
(Ifi66,) mentions a small-fiuited variety as growing at Wimbleton in Surrey, 
and many places of Lancashire. It is said also (see Ray's Syn.) to have been 
found since, plentifully, in Wimbleton Park, by Mr. J. Sherard. In the 4th 
edit, of the Brit. Flora, Sir W. J. Hooker has united R.petraum, and R. spica- 
tum, with this species. 
The fruit, when cultivated, is much esteemed for dessert, and for making tarts, 
wine, preserves, &c. According to Withering, the juice forms an agreeable 
acid to punch. If equal weights of picked currants and pure sugar be put over 
the fire, the liquor that separates spontaneously is a most agreeable jelly. The 
Medicinal qualities of red currants are similar to those of other subacid fruits, 
allaying thirst, lessening an increased secretion of the bile, and correcting a pu- 
trid and scorbutic state of the fluids. 
Dothidea nbesia, Pers. ; Spheeria cinnabarina, Tode. ; and Sp. coronata ; 
Hoffm. ; are parasitical on dead branches of currant trees about Oxford. The 
two former very common, the latter rather rare. 
The Natural Order, Grossulacea, consists only of Ribes, consequently the 
characters of the Order are the same as those of tb* ~ 
