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. indecorum Eastw.

WHITE FLOWERING CURRANT

Shrub < 3 m
Stem: nodal spines 0
Leaf generally deciduous; blade 10–40 mm, thick, crenate, upper surface green, hairy, rough, lower surface white, tomentose
Inflorescence 10–25-flowered, open; bracts pink
Flower: hypanthium 4–5 mm, barely longer than wide, white; sepals 1–2 mm, white; petals 1 mm, white; styles fused ± to tip, hairy at least at base
Fruit 6–7 mm, purple, hairy; glands stalked, sticky
Ecology: Chaparral, coastal-sage scrub
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Outer South Coast Ranges, South Coast, Western Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: n Baja California
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY: 17, 24 &SHD: 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.