Kingdom Plantae Family Grossulariaceae Scientific name Ribes glandulosum | Order Saxifragales Genus Ribes Rank Species | |
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Similar Ribes lacustre, Ribes americanum, Ribes hudsonianum, Crataegus flabellata, Ribes triste | ||
Ribes glandulosum, the skunk currant, is a North American species of flowering plant in the currant family. It is widespread in Canada (all 10 provinces and all 3 territories) and is also found in parts of the United States (Alaska, the Great Lakes region, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Northeast).
Ribes glandulosum is a deciduous shrub growing to 0.5 m (2 ft) tall and wide. It has palmately lobed leaves with 5 or 7 deeply cut segments. Flowers are in elongated clusters of 6-15 pink flowers. Fruits are red and egg-shaped, sometimes palatable but sometimes not.
Uses
The Ojibwa people take a compound decoction of the root for back pain and for "female weakness." The Cree people use a decoction of the stem, either by itself or mixed with wild red raspberry, to prevent clotting after birth. The Algonquin people use the berries as food.
