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. sanguineum Pursh

RED FLOWERING CURRANT

Shrub < 4 m
Stem: nodal spines 0
Leaf thin to moderately thick; blade 2–7 cm, irregularly toothed and finely serrate, upper surface puberulent, lower surface sparsely hairy to whitish tomentose
Inflorescence 10–20-flowered; bracts white to red
Flower: hypanthium 2–7 mm, longer than wide; sepals 4–5 mm, white, pink, or red; petals 2–3 mm, white to red; styles fused ± to tip
Fruit 4–8 mm, blue-black-glaucous; hairs glandular
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Many habitats
Elevation: < 2200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except Inner North Coast Ranges), Central Western California (except Inner South Coast Ranges)
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia

Native

var. glutinosum (Benth.) Loudon

Leaf: blade lower surface sparsely hairy
Inflorescence pendent
Flower: sepals pink to white
Ecology: Many habitats
Elevation: < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Outer North Coast Ranges, Central Western California (except Inner South Coast Ranges)
Distribution outside California: Oregon
Synonyms: vars. deductum (Greene) Jeps. and melanocarpum (Greene) Jeps
Horticultural information: DRN: 4, 5, 6, 17 &IRR: 15, 16 &SHD: 7, 8, 9, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; CVS.