Northern black currant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern black currant |
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| R. hudsonianum growing in Clearwater National Forest | |
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Ribes
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| Species: |
hudsonianum
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| Varieties | |
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The Ribes hudsonianum is a North American plant commonly called the northern black currant. It is a type of currant plant. This shrub is known for its dark berries and unique smell.
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Meet the Northern Black Currant
Northern black currants like to grow in damp, wooded places. You can often find them near mountain streams or in swampy areas. These plants are shrubs that stand upright. They can grow from about half a meter (20 inches) to 2 meters (80 inches) tall.
The plant has a strong smell that many people find unpleasant. Its stems are covered in shiny, yellow, sticky dots called resin glands. These stems do not have any sharp spines or prickles.
The leaves of the northern black currant can be up to 10 centimeters long. They are usually divided into three, or sometimes five, parts with jagged edges. The underside of the leaves has long hairs and more yellow glands.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers grow in tall, spikelike clusters called racemes. Each cluster can have up to 50 flowers. Each flower looks like a small tube. It has whitish outer leaves called sepals that open up. Inside, you can see smaller whitish petals.
After the flowers, the plant produces black berries. These berries are about one centimeter (0.4 inches) wide. They have a waxy surface and are covered with tiny yellow glands. The berries taste bitter, but they are safe to eat.
Two Kinds of Northern Black Currant
The northern black currant species is divided into two main types, or varieties. Both are known as northern black currants. However, they also have their own special names.
One type is called R. h. var. hudsonianum. This one is also known as the Hudson Bay currant. The other type is R. h. var. petiolare. This variety is often called the western black currant.
Where Do They Live?
Hudson Bay currants are found across Canada. You can see them in every province from Quebec all the way to the west. They also grow in parts of the United States. This includes Alaska, the Great Lakes region, and the northern Rocky Mountains. They are also in the Cascades, Blue Mountains, and other parts of the Northwest.
Western black currants are mostly found south of Canada. While they do grow in British Columbia, they are more common in the western U.S. states. These include Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, northern Nevada, northern California, and Utah.
Only a few places have both types of northern black currants. These are British Columbia in Canada, and the U.S. states of Idaho and Washington.
