Ribes alpinum

Alpine currant
A twig of alpine currants
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Grossulariaceae
Genus:	Ribes
Species:	R. alpinum
Binomial name
Ribes alpinum L.
Synonyms
List Ribes lucidum Kit. Grossularia alpestris Bubani Grossularia insipida Rupr. Liebichia alpina (L.) Opiz Liebichia gottsteinii Opiz Ribes alpinum subsp. lucidum (Kit.) Jasicová Ribes alpinum subsp. lucidum Pawł. Ribes pallidigemmum Simonk. Ribes scopolii Hladnik

Ribes alpinum, known as mountain currant or alpine currant, is a small deciduous, dioecious shrub native to central and northern Europe from Finland and Norway south to the Alps and Pyrenees and Caucasus, Georgia; in the south of its range, it is confined to high altitudes. It is scarce in western Europe, in Britain being confined to a small number of sites in northern England and Wales.

R. alpinum grows to 2 metres (6+1⁄2 feet) tall and 1.5 m (5 ft) broad, with an upright and dense shape. The bark is initially smooth and light grey, later it becomes brownish grey and eventually starts to flake off. The buds are scattered, compressed and light green to white. The leaves are palmate. The upper side of the leaves are dark green with scattered hair, while the bottom is light green. The male and female flowers are on distinct specimens. Both kinds of flowers are organized in clusters in the corners of the leaves, where the male's are the longest. The individual flowers are small and greenish-yellow. The edible fruit is red, clear and resembles a redcurrant, but has an insipid taste. The seeds germinate readily.

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  An alpine currant hedge at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum