Golden currant | |
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R. aureum var. aureum, Spring Mountains, Nevada. | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Saxifragales |
Family: | Grossulariaceae |
Genus: | Ribes |
Subgenus: | Ribes subg. Ribes |
Section: | Ribes sect. Symphocalyx |
Species: | R. aureum |
Binomial name | |
Ribes aureum Pursh 1813 | |
Synonyms [1] | |
List
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Ribes aureum, known by the common names golden currant, [2] clove currant, pruterberry and buffalo currant, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ribes native to North America. [3]
The plant is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub, 2–3 metres (6+1⁄2–10 feet) tall. The leaves are green, semi-leathery, [4] with 3 or 5 lobes, and turn red in autumn. [5]
The plant blooms in spring with racemes of conspicuous golden yellow flowers, often with a pronounced, spicy fragrance similar to that of cloves or vanilla. Flowers may also be shades of cream to reddish, and are borne in clusters of up to 15. [6] The shrub produces berries about 1 centimetre (3⁄8 inch) in diameter from an early age. The ripe fruits are amber yellow to black. [6] Those of variety villosum are black. [7]
The species belongs to the subgenus Ribes, which contains other currants such as the blackcurrant (R. nigrum) and redcurrant (R. rubrum), and is the sole member of the section Symphocalyx. [8]
Ribes aureum is native to Canada and the central United States West of the Mississippi River, but has escaped cultivation and naturalized in the Eastern United States. [12] [11]
It can be found around gravel banks and plains around flowing water. [4]
Pollinators of the plant include hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. The fruit is eaten by various birds and mammals. [13]
This currant species is susceptible to white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), a fungus which attacks and kills pines, so it is sometimes eradicated from forested areas where the fungus is active to prevent its spread. [6] [14]
R. aureum is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, in traditional, native plant, drought tolerant, and wildlife gardens, and natural landscaping projects. [15] Unlike some other species of currants, Ribes aureum is in the remarkably drought-tolerant group of Ribes . Named cultivars have been introduced also.
Although the flowers are hermaphroditic, the yield is greatly benefited by cross-pollination.
The fruits are edible raw, but are very tart or bitter. [16] They are usually cooked with sugar and can be made into jelly. [4] The flowers are also edible. [6] [5]
The berries were used for food, and other plant parts for medicine, by various Native American groups across its range in North America. [6] [17]
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.
Ribes sanguineum, the flowering currant, redflower currant, red-flowering currant, or red currant is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Grossulariaceae, native to the western United States and Canada.
Ribes malvaceum, the chaparral currant, is a member of the Grossulariaceae. It is native to California and northern Baja California, where it occurs from sea level to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), in chaparral, foothill oak woodland, and closed-cone pine forest habitats.
Mahonia repens commonly known as creeping mahonia, creeping Oregon grape, creeping barberry, or prostrate barberry, is a species of Mahonia native to the Rocky Mountains and westward areas of North America, from British Columbia and Alberta in the north through Arizona and New Mexico, then into northwest Mexico by some reports. It is also found in many areas of California and the Great Basin region in Nevada.
Sambucus racemosa is a species of elderberry known by the common names red elderberry and red-berried elder.
Ribes divaricatum is a species in the genus Ribes found in the forests, woodlands, and coastal scrub of western North America from British Columbia to California. The three accepted varieties have various common names which include the word "gooseberry". Other common names include coast black gooseberry, wild gooseberry, Worcesterberry, or spreading-branched gooseberry.
Ribes amarum is a species of currant known by the common name bitter gooseberry. It is endemic to California, where it is known from mountains, foothills, and canyons. Its habitat includes Chaparral.
Ribes californicum, with the common name hillside gooseberry, is a North American species of currant. It is endemic to California, where it can be found throughout many of the California Coast, Transverse, and Peninsular Ranges in local habitat types such as chaparral and woodlands.
Ribes canthariforme is a rare species of currant commonly known as the Moreno currant. It is characterized by pink to red flowers, a dense inflorescence, and a lack of nodal spines. A little-known endemic to the mountains of San Diego County, it is usually found growing the shade of massive boulders in the chaparral. Although the rarity and small numbers of this plant is a conservation concern, it is usually found in remote areas and is well hidden enough to be safe from most threats.
Ribes cereum is a species of currant known by the common names wax currant and squaw currant; the pedicellare variety is known as whisky currant. The species is native to western North America.
Ribes hudsonianum is a North American species of currant, known by the common name northern black currant.
Ribes inerme is a species of currant known by the common names whitestem gooseberry and white stemmed gooseberry. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California and westward to the Rocky Mountains. It grows in mountain forests, woodlands, and meadows.
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.
Ribes roezlii is a North American species of currant known by the common name Sierra gooseberry.
Ribes thacherianum, with the common name Santa Cruz gooseberry, or Santa Cruz Island gooseberry, is a rare North American species of currant found only on one island off the coast of California.
Ribes velutinum is a species of currant known by the common name desert gooseberry.
Ribes americanum is a North American species of flowering plant in the gooseberry family known as wild black currant, American black currant, and eastern black currant. It is widespread in much of Canada and the northern United States.
Ribes acerifolium is a North American species of currant known by the common names mapleleaf currant and maple-leaved currant. It is native to the Canadian Province of British Columbia as well as to the northwestern United States.
Ribes erythrocarpum is an uncommon North American species of currant known by the common name Crater Lake currant. It is native to the Cascade Mountains in the US State of Oregon, including inside Crater Lake National Park.
Ribes rotundifolium is a North American species of currant known by the common names wild gooseberry and Appalachian gooseberry. It is native to the eastern United States, primarily the Adirondacks, from Massachusetts and the Appalachian Mountains south as far as South Carolina and Tennessee.