Ribes bracteosum
| Ribes bracteosum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 8' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Ribes bracteosum (common name: stink currant)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification at 2 to 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[1][2]. Under normal storage conditions the seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring of the following year
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[3][1].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors[3][4].
Cultivation: Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality[5][4]. Requires a sunny position[5].
Hardy to about -20°c[4].
Plants can harbour a stage of 'white pine blister rust', so they should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees[6]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[4].
The fruit is produced on long sprigs and is therefore easier to harvest[7]. It is being used in modern breeding programmes for blackcurrants[7].
Range: South-western N. America.
Habitat: Stream banks and moist woods, especially by seepages[8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[9][10][11][12]. Not very palatable[4]. The fruit can cause stomach upsets if eaten in large quantities[13]. The fruit has a mild blackcurrant flavour, though it is not so juicy, has a mealy texture and a slight bitterness[K]. It ripens in September and is acceptable in small quantities raw[K], it can also be used in pies, preserves etc and makes an excellent jam[14][15][13]. It can be dried and stored for winter use[14][15]. Native North American Indians considered the fruit to be constipating and so would eat it with oil[16]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter[4], it is produced on long racemes, making it much easier to harvest than most currants[K].
Medicinal: The fruits can be eaten in quantity as a laxative[13].
An infusion of the stems has been given to children as a treatment for colds[13].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Arnberger, Leslie. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments, 1968.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Roach, Frederick. Cultivated Fruits of Britain. Oxford University Press, 1985.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, 1978.
- ↑ Gunther, Erna. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press, 1981.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples. UBC Press Vancouver, 1995.