Flowers hanging upside down (pendent) on 2-6 mm., flexible stems.  The hypanthium, a floral tube arising from the top of the inferior ovary (see bitter gooseberry), is 2-2.5 mm., about as long as it is wide, differentiating it from R. amarum (longer than wide, 5-6 mm.) and R. roezlii (much longer than wide, 5-7 mm.).  Both ovary and floral tube are bristly. The 5 sepals are greenish- to deep red, (more greenish at the tips) 6-8 mm., turning back towards the stem (reflexed) after the pistil and anthers have developed.  There are 5 white or pink-tinged 3 mm. long petals, arranged in a circle, with petal margins turned inward.  Five pale yellow anthers 3-3.5 mm. long are seen beyond the petals, surrounding the two pointed styles that project out from them.  In variant hesperium, the filament (stalk which supports the anther) length is equal to or slightly longer than the petals (JM2). Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 12-29-11. © Peter J. Bryant

Hillside Gooseberry

Ribes californicum

A fall-deciduous shrub up to 4 1/2 ft. tall, fairly common in chaparral, in canyons and woodlands on open slopes of the Santa Ana Mountains (Roberts). Fairly common along Maple Springs Road and Holy Jim trail. It is generally erect, openly branched, often with arching branches bearing 1-3 spines per node.  The alternate leaves appear in winter before the flowers.  Flowering Jan.- March.


Leaves are thin, heart-shaped to roundish, palmately 3-5 lobed, 3/8 to 1 1/4 in. wide, and are non-glandular (JM2); below, dull, paler and sparsely hairy; above, shinier, bright green, minutely ciliate. Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 12-29-11. © Peter J. Bryant

Inflorescences in leaf axils are 1- to 3- flowered. Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 12-29-11. © Peter J. Bryant

Fruit is 2 cm. in diameter, covered with red bristles, red at maturity. Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 12-29-11. © Peter J. Bryant


Developing fruit. Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 12-29-11. © Peter J. Bryant

Developing fruit. Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 4-12-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Developing fruit. Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 4-12-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Developing fruit. Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 4-28-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Developing fruit. Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 4-28-12. © Peter J. Bryant
Associated Insects

This is one of the larval foodplants for the Tailed Copper, Lycaena arota