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. menziesii Pursh

CANYON GOOSEBERRY

Shrub < 3 m
Stem: nodal spines 3; internode bristles dense, at least some glandular
Leaf: blade 1.5–4 cm, toothed, hairy, glandular
Inflorescence 1–3-flowered
Flower: hypanthium 2–3 mm, generally ± as long as wide; sepals reflexed, 5–10 mm, purple; petals 2–5 mm, white, margins curled inward; anthers exserted from petals; styles exceeding anthers
Fruit 8–10 mm, purple; bristles dense, stiff, at least some glandular
Ecology: Forest openings, chaparral
Elevation: < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Outer North Coast Ranges, s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, Outer South Coast Ranges
Distribution outside California: sw Oregon
Variable; described vars. indistinct. Plants from SCoRO with petals = filaments and fruit bristles glandular and nonglandular have been called var. hystrix (Eastw.) Jeps.; plants from s SNF with aromatic leaves have been called var. ixoderme Quick, aromatic canyon gooseberry; plants from s NCoRO & SnFrB with glandular fruit have been called var. leptosmum (Coville) Jeps.; plants from sw SnFrB with leaves barely glandular beneath have been called var. senile (Coville) Jeps
Horticultural information: DRN, SHD or IRR: 5, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24.