Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
24. Grossulariaceae, the Gooseberry Family
1. Ribes L. -- Currant, gooseberry3. Ribes triste Pall. -- Swamp currant
Low, straggling shrub 0.4-1 m tall, the spreading branches usually rooting adventitiously along the lower portion; stems unarmed, the new growth pubescent and with some short, stipitate glands, soon glabrous and gray to brownish-gray, turning dark brown and exfoliating with age. Leaves broadly 3(5)-lobed, 2-11 cm long, 2.5-11 cm wide, glabrous or nearly so above, short-pubescent at least on the veins beneath, coarsely dentate-serrate, broadly cordate at the base, the lobes broadly triangular, projecting forward; petioles shorter than to about equaling the blade, short-pubescent and often glandular, ciliate toward the base. Inflorescence racemose, 5- to 12-flowered, drooping, 2-9 cm long, the axis short-pubescent, often glandular; bracts broadly cordate, shorter than the pedicels; pedicels 1-4 mm long. Flowers green or purple-tinged; sepals spreading, broadly rounded, 1-2 mm long and about as wide; petals erect, red to purple, ca. 1 mm long; stamens about equaling the petals; styles united 1/3 to 1/2 of their length; hypanthium saucer-shaped, 0.5-1 mm long. Fruit a red berry 8-10 mm in diameter. Flowering May, fruiting Jun--Jul. Bogs and swampy woods; uncommon in nc and ne ND; (Labr. to AK, s to NJ, MI, MN, ND, and OR; also n Asia).
Previous Species -- Ribes missouriense Nutt. -- Missouri gooseberry
Return to Family -- Primulaceae - The Primrose Family
