Ribes glandulosum
Species of fruit and plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ribes glandulosum, or the skunk currant,[3] is a North American species of flowering plant in the currant family.
| Ribes glandulosum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Grossulariaceae |
| Genus: | Ribes |
| Species: | R. glandulosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Ribes glandulosum Grauer 1784 not Ruiz & Pav. 1802[2] | |
Description
Ribes glandulosum is a deciduous shrub growing to 0.5 metres (2 ft) tall and wide. The leaves are 2.5–7.5 centimetres (1–3 in) wide, palmately lobed with 5–7 deeply cut segments.[4] Flowers are in elongated clusters of 6–15 pink flowers. Fruits are dark red and egg-shaped, sometimes palatable but sometimes not.[5][6][3]
Distribution and habitat
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).[7][8] It can be found in humid forests, shrub thickets, clearings, and on rocky slopes.[4]
As a noxious weed
It is considered a noxious weed in Michigan, and planting it is prohibited in certain parts of the state.[9]
Conservation
Ribes glandulosum has been assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.[1] It is listed as endangered in Connecticut[10] and New Jersey, and presumed extirpated in Ohio.[11]
Uses
The Ojibwe people take a compound decoction of the root for back pain and for "female weakness".[12] The Woods Cree use a decoction of the stem, either by itself or mixed with wild red raspberry, to prevent clotting after birth, eat the berries as food, and use the stem to make a bitter tea.[13] The Algonquin people use the berries as food.[14]
