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. cereum Douglas

WAX CURRANT

Stem: nodal spines 0
Leaf: odor spicy; blade 10–40 mm, round, shallowly lobed, finely toothed, upper surface glossy
Inflorescence 3–7-flowered
Flower: hypanthium 6–8 mm, > 2 X longer than wide; sepals 1–2 mm, white to pink; petals < 1 mm, white to pink; stamens inserted below level of petals, anther tips with cup-like depression; styles fused ± to tip
Fruit 10–12 mm, red, glabrous to sparsely glandular
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Dry montane to alpine slopes, among rocks, forest edges
Elevation: 1500–4000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountain Area, Transverse Ranges, San Jacinto Mountains, Great Basin Floristic Province, Desert Mountains
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, c US, Arizona

Native

var. inebrians (Lindl.) C.L. Hitchc.

Leaf: hairs dense, nonglandular
Inflorescence: bract tip acute, with 1–3 shallow teeth on each side
Flower: styles glabrous
Ecology: Open rocky areas
Elevation: 2100–4000 m.
Bioregional distribution: s High Sierra Nevada, White and Inyo Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Idaho, NE, Nevada, Arizona
Flowering time: Jun–Jul
Synonyms: R. i. Lindl
Horticultural information: DRN, IRR: 1, 2.