Ribes laxiflorum
Pursh
White-flowered currant, Trailing black currant
(c) M. Goff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by M. Goff
(c) Bill Rodstrom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Bill Rodstrom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, and while palatable, it is not particularly juicy. Fruits grow up to 10mm long (often smaller) and are borne in small racemes. They can be dried for later use or made into jelly.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant.
Alaska, Canada, North America, USA,
How to Identify
Deciduous shrub reaching only 0.3m tall, hardy to UK zone 5. Hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by insects. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils preferring well-drained conditions. Grows in mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline soils. Suitable for semi-shaded woodland or full sun. Prefers moist soil.
Nutrition Score: 34/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 84 | 272 | 65 | 0.7 | — | 61.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 |
How to Grow
Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality. Plants are quite tolerant of shade though do not fruit so well in such a position. Hardy to about -20°c. Plants can harbour a stage of 'white pine blister rust', so they should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.
Propagation: Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months of cold stratification at 0–5°C and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Under normal storage conditions, seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, grow on in a cold frame for their first winter, then plant out in late spring the following year. Take cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10–15cm with a heel, in July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, can be taken November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors.
Medicinal Uses
A decoction or infusion of the root or branches can be used daily as an eyewash to remove foreign matter from the eyes. A decoction of the leaves and twigs serves as a general tonic. A decoction of the bark has been used to treat colds, and a decoction of the bark and roots has been used in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Other Uses
None known.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Ribes laxiflorum is a species of currant known by the common names trailing black currant, and spreading currant. It is native to western North America.
Notes
There are about 150 Ribes species.
Names & Synonyms
Ts'ipscili
References (4)
- Fl. Amer. sept. 2:731. 1813-1814
- Kuhnlein, H. V., et al, 2009, Indigenous Peoples' food systems. FAO Rome p 33
- Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 478
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
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