Relatives
Ribes biebersteinii Berl. - Bieberstein's currant.
Taxonomic position.
Family Grossulariaceae Hill, genus Ribes L.Morphology and biology.
Perennial plant. Shrub grows up to 2 m tall and has bare, light-colored shoots. Leaves are thin, heart-shaped, large, up to 10 cm in length and 13 cm in width, usually 5-lobed; can be bare on both sides (f. glabrum Grossh.) or densely pilose below (f. hirtum Grossh.), less frequently with glandular hairs on the upper surface of the leaf and along the veins on the underside. Racemes are 4-12 cm long, horizontal, drooping under fruits, loose, with 15-50 flowers. Pedicels are 2-3 mm long. Flowers are 5-6 mm long, dark purple, with sepals deflected backwards. Hypanthium is bell-shaped, with notable excrescences under the petals. Styles are wide-conical, up to 2 mm in length. Ovary is semi-inferior. Berries are small, 6-7 mm in diameter, dark red or purple-black. Blossoms in June; bears fruit beginning in late August. Entomophilous. Zoochore.Distribution.
Occurs throughout the Caucasus and on the Pontus Ridge in Asia Minor.Ecology.
Occurs in the forests of the middle mountain zone and in sub-alpine shrubbery.Utilization and economic value.
Berries are edible, having sour flavor. May be used to make jelly and drinks.References:
Komarov V.L., ed. 1939. Flora of the USSR. Vol. 9. Moscow-Leningrad: Publishing House Acad. Sci. USSR, p. 245-246. (in Russian).Poyarkova, A.I. 1936. Critical review of wild currant and gooseberry species in the Soviet Union. Flora and taxonomy of higher plants. Works of the Botanical Institute, USSR Academy of Sciences, series 1, issue 2, pp. 184. (in Russian).