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. thacherianum (Jeps.) Munz

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND GOOSEBERRY

Shrub < 3 m
Stem: nodal spines 0–3; internodes hairy, bristly
Leaf: blade 2–3 cm, shallowly lobed, toothed, upper surface subglabrous, lower surface hairy
Inflorescence 1–2-flowered; pedicels softly white-hairy
Flower: hypanthium 4–5 mm, longer than wide; sepals spreading, 9–10 mm, pinkish; petals 6 mm, white, margins curled inward; anthers exserted from petals, tips with a short, sharp, flexible point; styles exceeding anthers
Fruit 7–10 mm, purple; bristles dense, hairs soft
Ecology: Ravines
Elevation: < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Channel Islands (Santa Cruz Island)
Horticultural information: In cultivation.