Ribes cereum Dougl.

By Maddy Palaschak, Native Plants of Arizona 2004

Common names: Western red currant (2) Squaw Currant (5).

Family: Grossulariaceae (1)

Synonymy: Ribes cereum Dougl. var. inebrians (Lindl.) C.L. Hitchc (1).

Etymology: Ribes comes from the Danish word “ribs” for red fruit or currant. Cereum describes the waxy fruit. (2)

Identification

Growth form: Shrub that measures about 2m. (3)
Roots:

Stem: Gray or brown smooth glabrous bark without spines (5).

Leaves: Circular, small leaves with fine toothed margins of 3-5 lobes (6). Clustered at ends of branches (6).

Inflorescence/flowers: Flowers are seen as drooping racemes and can be enclosed by glandular bracts (2). Flowers white to cream-colored or pink (5). Clustered and tubular (6).

Fruit: Bright red berry that is slightly glabrous (5). Not really flavorful (6).

Similar species: Similar to Ribes aureum because it also lacks spines on stems but it has long, bright yellow flowers (4).

Ecology

Life history: Perennial (1). Shrub 2-8 feet tall (5).

Native/introduced: Native to Western North America (1).

Photosynthetic pathway:

Phenology: May to June (2).

Distribution: Grows at high altitudes of 4,800 to 12,300 ft. Along Rocky Mountains northward to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia (5).

Uses

Cultivated as an ornamental and for food (3). Western Indian tribes made pemmican, a mixture of the berries and dried meat (6).

References

1. “Plants Profile”. United States Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/.

2. “Biodiversity Information and Data.” Oklahoma Biological Survey. http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/.

3. “Ribes cereum.” Univeristy and Jepson Herbaria. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu.

4. Craighead, John., Craighead, Frank., Davis, Ray. 1963. A field guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. Hougton Mifflin Company. Boston. pp. 78..

5. McMinn, Howard. 1970. An Illustrated Manual of California Shrubs. University of California Press. Brekeley, Los Angeles, London. pp. 147.

6. Mozingo, Hugh. 1987. Shrubs of the Great Basin. University of Nevada Press. Las Vegas. pp.137-138.

Ribes cereum Dougl. By Maddy Palaschak, Native Plants of Arizona 2004 Common names: Western red currant (2) Squaw Currant (5). Family: Grossulariaceae (1) Synonymy: Ribes cereum Dougl. var. inebrians (Lindl.) C.L. Hitchc (1). Etymology: Ribes comes from the Danish word “ribs” for red fruit or currant. Cereum describes the waxy fruit. (2) Identification Growth form: Shrub that measures about 2m. (3) Roots: Stem: Gray or brown smooth glabrous bark without spines (5). Leaves: Circular, small leaves with fine toothed margins of 3-5 lobes (6). Clustered at ends of branches (6). Inflorescence/flowers: Flowers are seen as drooping racemes and can be enclosed by glandular bracts (2). Flowers white to cream-colored or pink (5). Clustered and tubular (6). Fruit: Bright red berry that is slightly glabrous (5). Not really flavorful (6). Similar species: Similar to Ribes aureum because it also lacks spines on stems but it has long, bright yellow flowers (4). Ecology Life history: Perennial (1). Shrub 2-8 feet tall (5). Native/introduced: Native to Western North America (1). Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: May to June (2). Distribution: Grows at high altitudes of 4,800 to 12,300 ft. Along Rocky Mountains northward to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia (5). Uses Cultivated as an ornamental and for food (3). Western Indian tribes made pemmican, a mixture of the berries and dried meat (6). References 1. “Plants Profile”. United States Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/. 2. “Biodiversity Information and Data.” Oklahoma Biological Survey. http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/. 3. “Ribes cereum.” Univeristy and Jepson Herbaria. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu. 4. Craighead, John., Craighead, Frank., Davis, Ray. 1963. A field guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. Hougton Mifflin Company. Boston. pp. 78.. 5. McMinn, Howard. 1970. An Illustrated Manual of California Shrubs. University of California Press. Brekeley, Los Angeles, London. pp. 147. 6. Mozingo, Hugh. 1987. Shrubs of the Great Basin. University of Nevada Press. Las Vegas. pp.137-138.