Kingdom Plantae Family Grossulariaceae Scientific name Ribes triste Rank Species | Order Saxifragales Genus Ribes Higher classification Currant | |
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Similar Currant, Moneses, Minuartia laricifolia, Conioselinum, Prenanthes | ||
Ribes triste, known as the northern redcurrant, swamp redcurrant, or wild redcurrant, is an Asian and North American shrub in the gooseberry family. It is widespread across Canada and the northern United States, as well as in eastern Asia (Russia, China, Korea, Japan).
Ribes triste grows in wet rocky woods, swamps, and cliffs. It grows to 50 cm (19.5 in) tall, with a lax, often creeping branches. The leaves are alternate, palmately lobed with five lobes, 6–10 cm (2.5–4 in) in diameter. The flowers are in pendulous racemes, 4–7 cm (1.5–3 in) long. The axis of the raceme is glandular. Each raceme bears 6-13 small, purplish flowers that appear in June and July. The fruit is a bright red berry, without the hairs that some currants have. The fruit is edible but rather sour.
