Description: Deciduous [or evergreen] shrubs, sometimes spiny, with alternate, simple, usually lobed leaves, often with resinous glands; stipules present or absent.
Inflorescence axillary, raceme-like or flowers solitary or in few-flowered clusters. Flowers actinomorphic, mostly bisexual or if unisexual then plants dioecious; usually 5-merous, floral parts epigynous. Sepals sometimes petaloid, persistent. Petals small. Stamens 5, mostly short. Ovary inferior, 1-locular, with 2 parietal placentas; styles 2, ± fused.
Fruit a juicy berry.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 1 genus, 150 species, Eurasia, NW Africa & America. Australia: 1 species (naturalized).
Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (Family: Grossulariaceae, Order: Saxifragales)
Ribes species are cultivated for their edible fruit, particularly currants and gooseberries. Sometimes the family is considered to be very diverse and includes as many as 25 genera with 350 species Many of these genera are otherwise included in the family Escalloniaceae.
Text by G. J. Harden (1991)