GROSSULARIACEAE

GOOSEBERRY FAMILY

Michael R. Mesler and John O. Sawyer, Jr.

Shrub generally < 2 m
Stem generally erect; nodal spines 0–9; internodal bristles generally 0; twigs generally hairy, generally glandular
Leaves simple, alternate, generally clustered on short, lateral branchlets, petioled, generally deciduous; blade generally palmately 3–5-lobed, generally thin, generally dentate or serrate, base generally cordate
Inflorescence: raceme, axillary, generally pendent, 1–25-flowered; pedicel generally not jointed to ovary, generally hairy or glandular; bract generally green
Flower bisexual, radial; hypanthium tube exceeding ovary; sepals generally 5, generally spreading; petals generally 5, generally < sepals, generally flat; stamens generally 5, alternate petals, generally inserted at level of petals (hypanthium top), anthers generally free, generally glabrous, tips generally rounded; ovary inferior, chamber 1, ovules many, styles generally 2, generally fused except at tip, generally glabrous
Fruit: berry
Genera in family: 1 genus, 120 species: n hemisphere, temp South America. Some cultivated as food, ornamental. Hypanthium data refer to part above ovary; statements about ovary hairs actually refer to the hypanthium around the ovary. Formerly included in Saxifragaceae.

RIBES

CURRANT, GOOSEBERRY

Etymology: (Arabic: for plants of this genus)

Native

R. aureum Pursh

GOLDEN CURRANT

Shrub < 3 m
Stem: nodal spines 0; internodes glabrous or puberulent
Leaf: blade firm, 15–50 mm, toothed or not, light green, generally glandular when young, generally glabrous when mature, base wedge-shaped to subcordate
Inflorescence 5–15-flowered
Flower: hypanthium 6–10 mm, longer than wide; sepals 3–8 mm, yellow; petals 2–3 mm; styles fused base to tip
Fruit 6–8 mm, red, orange, or black, glabrous
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Many habitats
Elevation: < 3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Inner North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, South Dakota, New Mexico

Native

var. gracillimum (Coville & Britton) Jeps.

Flower: odor 0; hypanthium 2–3 X sepals; sepals 3–4 mm; petals yellow turning deep red
Ecology: Alluvial areas, forest edges
Elevation: < 3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Inner North Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California
Horticultural information: 6, 17; IRR or SHD: 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.