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. marshallii Greene

MARSHALL'S GOOSEBERRY

Stem arched, rooting at tip; nodal spines 3
Leaf: blade 25–35 mm, toothed, subglabrous
Inflorescence 1–3-flowered
Flower: hypanthium 3–4 mm, ± as long as wide; sepals reflexed, 10–15 mm, purple; petals 5–6 mm, bright yellow, outer surface deeply concave, tip hooded; anthers exserted from petals
Fruit 10–20 mm, oblong, dark red; prickles nonglandular; hairs sparse, appressed
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Montane forests
Elevation: 1200–2100 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges
Distribution outside California: sw Oregon
Horticultural information: SHD, IRR: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7.