Blood currant
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Blood currant ( Ribes sanguineum ) |
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The blood currant ( Ribes sanguineum ) is a species of the currants ( Ribes ) in the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae). This shrub is native to North America.
description
The blood currant grows as a deciduous, loosely branched shrub and reaches heights of 1 to 4 m. The bark is gray-brown to red-brown. The leaves are five-lobed and about 2 to 7 cm wide and long. The fresh leaf shoots in spring smell resinous.
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The flowers appear simultaneously with the leaves in April to May. The flowers stand together to 5 to 30 in 3–7 cm long racemose inflorescences . The flowers are 5 to 10 mm in size. The five petals are bright red to pink. The flowers are often visited by hummingbirds in California and by butterflies and bumblebees in our country.
In July, the dark purple, blue frosted berries, about 1 cm in size, ripen (which is why the species is also called blue currant). They are edible and have little flavor.
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 16.
distribution
The blood currant originates from western North America and occurs there from British Columbia to Northern California . It occurs in California at altitudes up to 2200 m.
Systematics
In the species Ribes sanguineum , the following varieties (sometimes also viewed as subspecies) are distinguished:
- Ribes sanguineum var. Glutinosum (Benth.) Loudon
- Ribes sanguineum Pursh var. Sanguineum
This system is controversial. It is also believed that R. glutinosum Benth. is a distinct species. It is characterized by glandular hairs that give off a strong aromatic odor when touched, and the underside of the leaves is green and not white-tomentose like R. sanguineum.
use
Because of the bright red flowers, the blood currant has often been planted as an ornamental shrub in gardens since 1826 .
Cultivated forms
Many varieties have been bred; the flower colors cover the spectrum from white to dark red. Here are some varieties:
- 'King Edward VII': Has red flowers.
- 'Pulborough Scarlet': also has red flowers.
- 'White Icicle': This cultivar has white flowers.
literature
- Entry at Plants of British Columbia (Engl.)
- Entry at Jepson Flora Project (Engl.)
- Ruprecht Düll , Herfried Kutzelnigg : Pocket dictionary of plants in Germany and neighboring countries. The most common Central European species in portrait. 7th, corrected and enlarged edition. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2011, ISBN 978-3-494-01424-1 .
Individual evidence
- ^ Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . 8th edition. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 . Page 496.
Web links
- Blood currant. In: FloraWeb.de.
- Blood currant . In: BiolFlor, the database of biological-ecological characteristics of the flora of Germany.
- Profile and distribution map for Bavaria . In: Botanical Information Hub of Bavaria .
- Ribes sanguineum Pursh In: Info Flora , the national data and information center for Swiss flora . Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- Thomas Meyer: Data sheet with identification key and photos at Flora-de: Flora von Deutschland (old name of the website: Flowers in Swabia )
- Entry at GRIN - Taxonomy for Plants .