RIBES, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Grossularire, including the goose berry, the currants. Among the apecies known in the East Indies are— R. glaciale, Wall. R. leptostachyum, Dne.
R. grossularia, L. R. nubieola.
R. Gritlithi, H. and Th. R. rubrum.
R. laciniatum, H. and T. R. villosum.
R. nubicola, R. glaciale, and R. grossularia, the currant and gooseberry, grow in N.W. Himalaya at 10,000 and 11,000 feet, but the fruit is taste less. Dr. Cleghorn also mentions a small, sour, woolly gooseberry called bilitsi in Lahoul. To these species add the gwaldakh, or gooseberry of Kaghan, and the rasta, or currant of Lahonl, also R. nubicola and R. acuminata. R. leptostachyurn, Dne., the yellow currant, and R. nigrum, the black currant, are not uncommon front 7000 to 14,000 feet in the Himalaya, and the former at least grows in Tibet, and was found by Dr. Bellew at about 10,000 feet near the S,afed Koh. The fruit of the latter is very like the cultivated black currant, and very fair eating. Ribes nigrum is used in preparing the liquor called ratafia.
Ribes glaeiale, Wall., Mangle, Bum, is found in the Sutlej valley between Rampnr and Sungnam at an elevation of 11,000 feet. Several varieties occur, but the fruits are without flavour.
Ribee Griffithii 11. and T, grows in the N.W. Himalaya at 10,000 to 13,000 feet elevaticn. Its berries are austere.
Ribes grossularia, L., gooseberry.
R. Hinudensis, Boyle. Pilea, Teila, . . CHEN.
Amlanch, Kansi, CHEN. Sur-ka-chup, . SUTLEJ.
This is found on the Upper Sutlej, Chenab, and Jhelum ; in Tibet, in the Sutlej valley, between Rampur and Sungnam, at an elevation of 8000 to 12,000 feet. Also near the Safed Koh at 10,000 feet.
Ribes rubrum, Linn. (R. Himalense, Daze.).
Hadar, Kbadri, . BRAS. Red currant, . . ENG. Rade, Ans, . . . CHEN. Dak, Dagh, . . JHELUM. Phulanch Nangke, „ Warawane, . TR.-INDUS.
Occurs frequently in the Panjab Himalaya from 5800 to 11,000 feet, up to the Indus and probably beyond ; it has a sweet, acid, nearly worthless fruit.—Royle ; Stewart ; Cleg. ; Powell.