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. inerme Rydb.

WHITE-STEMMED GOOSEBERRY

Stem scrambling; nodal spines 0–3; internodes generally glabrous
Leaf: blade 20–30 mm, coarsely toothed
Inflorescence 1–5-flowered
Flower: hypanthium 2–3 mm, ± as long as wide; sepals reflexed, 3–4 mm, greenish white, purple at base or not; petals 1–2 mm, white; filaments exceeding petals by > 2 mm
Fruit 7–11 mm, purple, glabrous
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Forests, streamsides, meadow edges
Elevation: 1200–3300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Outer North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Rocky Mtns
Reference: [Sinnott 1985 Rhodora 87:189–286]

Native

var. klamathense (Coville) Jeps.

Leaf: hairs sparse to dense, long, soft to stiff
Flower: hypanthium hairs ± 0 to soft; sepal hairs soft
Ecology: Conifer forest edges
Elevation: 1200–1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Outer North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range
Distribution outside California: sw Oregon
Synonyms: R. divaricatum var. k. (Coville & Britton) McMinn
Horticultural information: IRR: 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17 &SHD: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 18.