[The Gooseberries and Currants: The Genus Ribes in Mt. Adams Country]

Bristly Black Gooseberry, Prickly Currant, Swamp Currant, Swamp Gooseberry

Ribes lacustre

Synonyms: Limnobotrya lacustris, Ribes lacustre var. parvulum, Ribes oxyacanthoides var. lacustre

Flowers of Bristly Black Gooseberry, Prickly Currant, Swamp Currant, Swamp Gooseberry: Ribes lacustre (Synonyms: Limnobotrya lacustris, Ribes lacustre var. parvulum, Ribes oxyacanthoides var. lacustre)

The photo of prickly currant seen above shows the inflorescence and its shallowly saucer-shaped flowers. The sepals are much larger than the hatchet-shaped petals. Note also the reddish, gland-tipped hairs on the hypan. The photo was taken at about 3600' on Crofton Butte on the southern flanks of Mt. Adams.

Leaf of Bristly Black Gooseberry, Prickly Currant, Swamp Currant, Swamp Gooseberry: Ribes lacustre (Synonyms: Limnobotrya lacustris, Ribes lacustre var. parvulum, Ribes oxyacanthoides var. lacustre)

The photo above shows a close-up of the glabrous dorsal leaf surface of a leaf of prickly currant, seen atop Crofton Butte on May 29, 2005.

Prickles of Bristly Black Gooseberry, Prickly Currant, Swamp Currant, Swamp Gooseberry: Ribes lacustre (Synonyms: Limnobotrya lacustris, Ribes lacustre var. parvulum, Ribes oxyacanthoides var. lacustre)

The photo above shows a close-up of the numerous spines, found both at the nodes and between the nodes of prickly currant, seen atop Crofton Butte on May 29, 2005.

Ripe fruits of Bristly Black Gooseberry, Prickly Currant, Swamp Currant, Swamp Gooseberry: Ribes lacustre (Synonyms: Limnobotrya lacustris, Ribes lacustre var. parvulum, Ribes oxyacanthoides var. lacustre)

The photo above shows several fruits of prickly currant as seen along the Island Springs Trail #66 at Hellroaring Creek on the eastern slopes of Mt. Adams..........August 25, 2005. The berries are a very dark purple color and lack any glaucous bloom of yeast. Note the long hairs on the surface of the berries.
Paul Slichter