Ribes nigrum L.
black currant
Unarmed, deciduous shrub to 1.5-(2.5) m high, with a characteristic strong odour when bruised; branches and shoots ± erect, glabrous except when young. Lvs plicately folded in bud with petioles to c. 8 cm long, slightly clasping at base; lamina broadly deltoid, 6-11 × 8-13 cm, often smaller on upper part of flowering stems, palmately lobed, with 3, ± triangular lobes; lower surface glabrate with fairly numerous prominent yellow glandular scales; upper surface slightly shining, somewhat rugose; margins crenate to coarsely serrate; base cordate. Racemes pendent, 5-15-flowered; fls ± fragrant. Hypanthium 2-4 mm diam., broadly campanulate to orbicular, green or reddish green, glabrous or hairy, with sessile, yellow, glandular scales. Sepals 3-5 mm long, triangular to oblong-elliptic, green or reddish green, ± villous inside, reflexed at anthesis. Petals 2.5-4 mm long, oblong to broadly ovate or broadly elliptic, white or greenish white. Filaments 2-4 mm long. Fr. 7-10 mm diam. (to 15 mm in cultivation), globose, black, opaque, lacking bloom, glabrous; flesh very aromatic and moderately sweet.
S.: Canterbury (scattered in lowland areas and near Mt Cook), Otago (upper Taieri R.), probably wild elsewhere in southern areas of N.Z.
Temperate Eurasia 1922
A sporadic escape from cultivation on scrub-covered hillsides and roadsides.
FL Sep-Nov FT Dec-Feb.
Black currants are abundantly cultivated, especially in colder areas of N.Z. A number of cvs are grown but it is impossible to name wild plants at this rank. The aromatic lvs and presence of yellow glandular scales on the lf undersurfaces distinguishes this sp. from R. rubrum which otherwise appears similar when not fruiting.
