A N F Keys
GROSSULARIACEAE
GOOSEBERRY
FAMILY
1 Branches spinescent, having 1−3(−5) spines per node; berry covered with radiating, hard bristles
2 Internodal prickles and bristles present, blade length > width, nodal spines generally 9−15 mm long; flowers 25−30 mm long, with 4 erect red sepals and 4 erect red petals; berries when mature blackish .. Ribes speciosum [pics]
2' Internodal prickles and bristles absent, blade length < width, nodal spines generally 4−8 mm long; flowers 10−18 mm long, with 5 reflexed red sepals and 5 erect petals white with rose-colored bases; berries when mature reddish .. Ribes californicum var. hesperium [pics]
1' Branches not spinescent, lacking nodal spines; berry lacking hard bristles
3 Foliage essentially glabrous and sometimes with inconspicuous glandular hairs, ± odorless; stipules if present inconspicuous, upper surface of blade smooth; flowers yellow .. Ribes aureum var. gracillimum [pics]
3' Foliage with conspicuous nonglandular and glandular hairs, strongly aromatic; stipules 1.7−4.3 mm long along petiole; upper surface of blade cobblestonelike with sunken principal veins
4 Lower surface of blade whitish due to dense hairs; flower buds (sepals) dark pink to purplish red; petals roundish, ovary at anthesis ± 2 mm long; glandular hairs on berry with colorless heads .. Ribes malvaceum [pics]
4' Lower surface of blade green; flower buds (sepals) white or tinged pink; petals depressed-ovate to spade-shaped, ovary at anthesis 2.2−2.8 mm long; glandular hairs on berry purple with pinkish heads .. Ribes indecorum [pics]
The text of the above keys used with permission from
A Naturalist's Flora of the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, California
© Copyright
Barry A. Prigge and Arthur C. Gibson
2013