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. viburnifolium A. Gray

SANTA CATALINA ISLAND or EVERGREEN CURRANT

Stem erect or arched; nodal spines 0; internode glands white, sessile
Leaf evergreen; blade 2–4 cm, (ob)ovate, leathery, lobes 0 or sparse, very shallow, teeth 0 or sparse, upper surface dark green, glabrous, lower surface with sessile, yellow glands, base acute, tip wide
Inflorescence erect, branched at base, 6–15-flowered
Flower: hypanthium 4–5 mm, saucer-shaped; sepals 2–3 mm, brown; petals 2 mm, red
Fruit 5–6 mm, red, glabrous
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Chaparral
Elevation: 30–300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Peninsular Ranges (sw San Diego Co.), s Channel Islands (Santa Catalina Island)
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Horticultural information: DRN: 5, 17 &IRR: 24 &SHD: 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.