\ V
RIBES malvaceum.
Mallow-leaved Currant.
Linnean Class and Order. PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA.
Natural Order. GROSSULARIEAÌ. Decand. prodr. Z. p. 471.
R IB E S . Suprà fol. 149.
R. malvaceum, merme, glanduloso-pubescens; foliis rotundato cordatis 3-5-lobia
duplicato-crenatis rugoso-venosissimis, racemis spicatis multifioris, petalis
obovatis retusis staminibusque iiiclusis, baccis birtellis.
Ribes malvaceum. Bentham in hort. trans. vol. \ .n . s. p. 476.
An upright, branched shrub, rising to the height of 3 feet
or more. Branches round, clothed with a pale-brown,
deciduous bark. Leaves stalked, cordate, 3-lobed, or sometimes
slightly 5-lobed, doubly crenate, much wrinkled and
dark-green above, paler and veiny beneath, with whiteish
ribs, and, as well as the young shoots, copiously glandular
on both sides; 2 inches long, and as much in breadth;
the lobes short and obtuse. Petioles an inch or more
in length, nearly cylindrical, slightly furrowed above,
and having a broad, concave base, which is fringed with
long feathery hairs. Racemes solitary, spiked, _ drooping,
many-flowered, more than two inches long, terminating the
young shoots, copiously glandular and viscid. Peduncles
filiform, an inch and a half long, dull purple._ Flowers
nearly sessile. Bractes lanceolate, acuminate, fringed and
glandular at the margin, stained with purple, shorter than
the flower. Calyx tubular, oblong-conical, pale purple,
copiously hairy on both surfaces, viscid, about a nail lo n g ;
lobes oblong, obtuse, membranous. Petals very small,
obovate, white, slightly emarginate. Stamens 5, scarcely
longer than the petals. Filaments compressed, white.