Ribes L.
Genus composed of 194 species, distributed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, reaching up to Patagonia in South America. In North Africa it is represented by 3 species distributed through the cooler and ± humid areas of the Mediterranean region. R. uva-crispa is relatively widespread but the other 2 species of the region are very rare, relict bioindicators of a cooler and wetter climate.
Key to species
1 Shrubs spiny. Flowers solitary, sometimes 2 or 3 Ribes uva-crispa
1 Shrubs not spiny. Flowers numerous grouped in racemes 2
2 Floral racemes upright. Leaves narrow (2-5 cm wide) Ribes alpinum
2 Floral racemes hanging. Leaves broad (4-15 cm wide) Ribes petraeum
Updated by: A.V. Pérez Latorre & J. Charco.