Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_1499.JPG-05-18-2019
Flower name (scientific): Ribes americanum Miller PY: 1768. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) RYE-bees a-mer-ih-KAY-num
Flower name (common): Wild Black Currant
Family name (common): Gooseberry
Family name (scientific): Grossulariaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From ribas, Persian for acid-tasting, i.e. bitter tasting.
    Specific epithet: Of or from America.
Common name origin: From the habitat and the color of the fruit. Currant is from the French raisins de Corinthe (raisins of Corinth), referring to the location in Greece from where the raisins were originally obtained.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.4 to 0.5 inches (1.0 to 1.3 cm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Raceme
Plant description:
     Size: 24 to 60 inches (61 to 152 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed
     Size: Leaves up to 5 to 9 cm long and about 5 to 9 cm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, orbicular (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): May to June
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Open woodlands, meadows, swamps, sun or part shade, moist.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife: Click for pollinator information on this flower.
Similar species (if any): The glands on the leaves, the winged stems, and the lack of prickles can help differentiate Ribes americanum from other Ribes species.
Ethnobotany: The Ojibwe eat the berries fresh or as a jam, and also dry the berries for winter use (Smith, p. 410, 1932).
Latitude: 44.794948
Longitude: -91.486775
Altitude: 254.60
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (CO, CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, PA, RI, SD, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY)
In Canada: (AB, MB, NB, NS, ON, QC, SK)
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na