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. divaricatum Douglas

Shrub < 3.5 m
Stem arched; nodal spines 0–3; internodes bristly or not
Leaf: blade 20–60 mm, coarsely toothed
Inflorescence < 5-flowered
Flower: hypanthium 1–4 mm; sepals reflexed, 5–7 mm, obovate, green, purple, or purple-green; petals 1–3 mm, white, pink, or red; filaments exceeding petals by > 3 mm; styles hairy at base
Fruit 6–10 mm, black, glabrous
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Coastal bluffs, forest edges, steamsides
Elevation: < 650 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except Inner North Coast Ranges), Cascade Range, Central Western California (except Inner South Coast Ranges), e South Coast
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia
Reference: [Sinnott 1985 Rhodora 87:189–286]
Var. divaricatum ranges from OR to B.C.

Native

var. pubiflorum Koehne

STRAGGLY GOOSEBERRY

Flower: hypanthium 1–2 mm; petals 1–2 mm, white; filaments > 5 mm; styles 5–8 mm
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Coastal bluffs, forest edges
Elevation: < 650 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except Inner North Coast Ranges), Cascade Range, Central Western California (except Inner South Coast Ranges)
Distribution outside California: sw Oregon
Horticultural information: IRR: 5, 17 &SHD: 14, 15, 16, 24.