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Ribes (probably derived from ribas, the Arabic name for Rheum Ribes,
Ribes (probably derived from ribas, the Arabic name for Rheum Ribes,
or by some supposed to be the Latinized form of riebs, an old German
or by some supposed to be the Latinized form of riebs, an old German
word for currant). Saxifragaceae. Currant. Gooseberry. Woody plants
word for currant). Saxifragaceae. Currant. Gooseberry. Woody plants
partly grown for their edible fruits and partly for their handsome
partly grown for their edible fruits and partly for their handsome
flowers, fruits, or foliage.
flowers, fruits, or foliage.
Unarmed or prickly shrubs with deciduous or rarely evergreen foliage:
Unarmed or prickly shrubs with deciduous or rarely evergreen foliage:
lvs. alternate, often fascicled, simple, usually palmately lobed and
lvs. alternate, often fascicled, simple, usually palmately lobed and
mostly plaited in the bud: fls. perfect or in some species dioecious,
mostly plaited in the bud: fls. perfect or in some species dioecious,
5-merous, rarely 4-merous, in many-fld. to few-fld. racemes, or
5-merous, rarely 4-merous, in many-fld. to few-fld. racemes, or
solitary; calyx-tube cylindric to rotate, like the sepals usually
solitary; calyx-tube cylindric to rotate, like the sepals usually
colored; petals usually smaller than the sepals, often minute, rarely
colored; petals usually smaller than the sepals, often minute, rarely
entirely wanting; stamens alternating with the petals, shorter or
entirely wanting; stamens alternating with the petals, shorter or
longer than the sepals; ovary inferior, 1-celled; styles 1 or 2 (Fig.
longer than the sepals; ovary inferior, 1-celled; styles 1 or 2 (Fig.
3401): fr. a many-seeded pulpy berry, crowned by the remains of the
3401): fr. a many-seeded pulpy berry, crowned by the remains of the
calyx. —About 150 species in the colder and temperate regions of N.
calyx. —About 150 species in the colder and temperate regions of N.
and S. Amer., N. and Cent. Asia, Eu., and N. Afr. The genus is
and S. Amer., N. and Cent. Asia, Eu., and N. Afr. The genus is
sometimes divided into two: the true Ribes with usually unarmed sts.,
sometimes divided into two: the true Ribes with usually unarmed sts.,
racemose fls., and jointed pedicels, and Grossularia (p. 1414) with
racemose fls., and jointed pedicels, and Grossularia (p. 1414) with
prickly sts.; fls. solitary or in short 2-4-fld. racemes and with the
prickly sts.; fls. solitary or in short 2-4-fld. racemes and with the
pedicels not jointed. The most recent monograph of the genus is by
pedicels not jointed. The most recent monograph of the genus is by
Janczewski, Monographie des Groseilliers, 1907 (originally published
Janczewski, Monographie des Groseilliers, 1907 (originally published
in Mem. Soc. Phys. Nat. Hist. Geneve, 35:199-517, with 202 figs.),
in Mem. Soc. Phys. Nat. Hist. Geneve, 35:199-517, with 202 figs.),
with important supplements in Bull. Acad. Sci. Cracovic, ser. B,
with important supplements in Bull. Acad. Sci. Cracovic, ser. B,
1910-13. The N. American species are treated by Coville & Britton in
1910-13. The N. American species are treated by Coville & Britton in
North American Flora, 22:193-225 (1908) under the two genera Ribes and
North American Flora, 22:193-225 (1908) under the two genera Ribes and
Grossularia. There are also descriptions and figures of the more
Grossularia. There are also descriptions and figures of the more
important species in Card's Bush Fruits, 444-84, figs. 80-109 (1911).
important species in Card's Bush Fruits, 444-84, figs. 80-109 (1911).
The currants and gooseberies are usually low, upright or less often
The currants and gooseberies are usually low, upright or less often
procumbent deciduous, rarely evergreen shrubs with prickly or unarmed
procumbent deciduous, rarely evergreen shrubs with prickly or unarmed
branches, small or medium-sized usually lobed leaves, with rather
branches, small or medium-sized usually lobed leaves, with rather
small solitary or racemose flowers often greenish or reddish and
small solitary or racemose flowers often greenish or reddish and
insignificant, but in some species white or brightly colored in shades
insignificant, but in some species white or brightly colored in shades
of red, scarlet, orange or yellow; the fruits also are often
of red, scarlet, orange or yellow; the fruits also are often
attractive and either black, purple, scarlet, yellowish or greenish.
attractive and either black, purple, scarlet, yellowish or greenish.
The flowers appear in spring with the leaves, and the fruits ripen in
The flowers appear in spring with the leaves, and the fruits ripen in
June or July, but in R. fasciculatum they do not mature until
June or July, but in R. fasciculatum they do not mature until
September and remain on the branches all winter. Most species are
September and remain on the branches all winter. Most species are
hardy North except the evergreen ones; also R. sanguineum, R. Roezlii,
hardy North except the evergreen ones; also R. sanguineum, R. Roezlii,
R.
R.
Lobbii, R. viscosissimum are not quite hardy North. The tender R.
Lobbii, R. viscosissimum are not quite hardy North. The tender R.
speciosum with fuchsia-like bright red flowers is perhaps the most
speciosum with fuchsia-like bright red flowers is perhaps the most
showy species of the genus, though also R. sanguineum, R. odoratum, R.
showy species of the genus, though also R. sanguineum, R. odoratum, R.
Gordonianum, R. Roezlii, R. Lobbii, R. pinetorum, R. cereum, R.
Gordonianum, R. Roezlii, R. Lobbii, R. pinetorum, R. cereum, R.
inebrians, R. niveum, and others are handsome in bloom, while some, as
inebrians, R. niveum, and others are handsome in bloom, while some, as
R. alpinum and R. fasciculatum, have ornamental scarlet fruits. They
R. alpinum and R. fasciculatum, have ornamental scarlet fruits. They
are well adapted for borders of shrubberies and, particularly the
are well adapted for borders of shrubberies and, particularly the
procumbent kinds, for planting on slopes. R. alpinum is excellent for
procumbent kinds, for planting on slopes. R. alpinum is excellent for
shady places and as undergrowth. R. alpestre, a strong-growing and
shady places and as undergrowth. R. alpestre, a strong-growing and
very spiny gooseberry from western China, may prove valuable as a
very spiny gooseberry from western China, may prove valuable as a
hedge-plant. Many species bear edible fruits; the most important are
hedge-plant. Many species bear edible fruits; the most important are
the domestic currant, R. vulgare, and the European gooseberry, R.
the domestic currant, R. vulgare, and the European gooseberry, R.
Grossularia; of less importance are the black currant, R. nigrum, the
Grossularia; of less importance are the black currant, R. nigrum, the
Buffalo or Missouri currant, R. odoratum, the European R. rubrum and
Buffalo or Missouri currant, R. odoratum, the European R. rubrum and
some of the American gooseberries, as R. hirtellum, R. Cynosbati, R.
some of the American gooseberries, as R. hirtellum, R. Cynosbati, R.
oxyacanthoides, R. setosum, R. inerme. These plants are mostly of easy
oxyacanthoides, R. setosum, R. inerme. These plants are mostly of easy
cultivation; they grow in any moderately good loamy soil, the
cultivation; they grow in any moderately good loamy soil, the
gooseberries preferring as a rule drier and sunnier positions, while
gooseberries preferring as a rule drier and sunnier positions, while
the currants like more humidity and grow well in partly shaded
the currants like more humidity and grow well in partly shaded
situations. Propagation is by seeds which germinate readily; also by
situations. Propagation is by seeds which germinate readily; also by
hardwood cuttings in autumn and by greenwood cuttings in summer under
hardwood cuttings in autumn and by greenwood cuttings in summer under
glass; mound-layering in summer is sometimes practised; budding or
glass; mound-layering in summer is sometimes practised; budding or
grafting is usually resorted to only, if quick propagation of rare
grafting is usually resorted to only, if quick propagation of rare
varieties is desired. In Europe, currants and gooseberries are
varieties is desired. In Europe, currants and gooseberries are
sometimes grafted high on R. odoratum trained to one stem, to form
sometimes grafted high on R. odoratum trained to one stem, to form
little standard trees. See also Currant and Gooseberry for
little standard trees. See also Currant and Gooseberry for
cultivation.
cultivation.
fragrans, 1. niveum, 21. xanthocarpum, 9.
fragrans, 1. niveum, 21. xanthocarpum, 9.
R. aciculare, Smith. Allied to R. Grossularia. Spiny shrub: branches
R. aciculare, Smith. Allied to R. Grossularia. Spiny shrub: branches
slender, bristly: lvs. 3-5-lobed, usually glabrous, about 1 in. broad:
slender, bristly: lvs. 3-5-lobed, usually glabrous, about 1 in. broad:
