redcurrant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• redcurrant
• European red currant
• cultivated red currant
• garden red currant
• northern red currant
• red garden currant
• common currant
• garden currant
• white currant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ribes glabrum
• Ribes rubrum var. virescens
• Ribes rubrum subsp. sativum
• Grossularia rubra
• Ribes racemosum
• Ribes rubrum var. parvum
• Ribes rubrum var. sativum
• Ribes rubrum var. dulce
• Ribes rubrum var. scandicum
• Ribes pendulum
• Ribes officinarum
• Ribes vulgare var. sylvestre
• Ribes houghtonianum
• Ribes rubrum var. sylvestre
• Ribes rubrum var. domesticum
• Ribesium rubrum
• Ribes domesticum
• Ribes sativum f. macrocarpum
• Ribes macrocarpum
• Ribes sativum
• Ribes rubrum var. variegatum
• Ribes sativum var. variegatum
• Ribes albescens
• Ribes sativum f. variegatum
• Ribes albicans
• Ribes smidtianum
• Ribes albovirens
• Ribes sylvestre var. smidtianum
• Ribes rubrum subsp. vulgare
• Ribes rubrum subsp. glabrum
• Ribes auriculatum
• Ribes vinosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Saxifragales, it is classified under the family Grossulariaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Ribes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Ribes rubrum, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. Its presence can be documented within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, it is found throughout the various territories of Great Britain. The species also extends its reach to the island of Iceland. Finally, its geographical range includes the country of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ribes rubrum is characterized by its adaptability to diverse, moisture-rich environments, where it thrives primarily within forest ecosystems and along forest edges. It frequently establishes itself in shrubberies and riparian zones, often colonizing the margins of rivers where consistent soil moisture is available. This preference for transitional habitats and moist, semi-shaded areas allows the species to benefit from the filtered sunlight found at forest boundaries while remaining protected from the extreme desiccation of open landscapes.

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, rivers, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Ribes rubrum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground, allowing it to maintain a robust structural presence. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, which plays a critical role in its survival strategy during colder periods. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and deciduous behavior defines its developmental patterns and environmental adaptations.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ribes rubrum is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub. It is a terrestrial plant that functions independently, without being an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine. In terms of stature, it typically reaches a mean height of 1.15 m, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum height of 0.8 m to a maximum height of 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.15 m

Plant height min:

0.8 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ribes rubrum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism for temperate species to facilitate carbon fixation. As a non-carnivorous plant, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake through its root system rather than the capture of prey. The leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource management, exhibiting a mean leaf size of 62.0625 cm² with a mean leaf width of 11 cm, a value that remains consistent across its minimum and maximum recorded widths. The leaves can reach a maximum length of 9 cm, contributing to a specific leaf area (SLA) with a mean value of 282.36 cm²/g, which reflects the plant's strategy for balancing light interception and metabolic efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf size mean:

62.0625 cm²

Leaf width mean:

11 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

282.36 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ribes rubrum is primarily sexual, characterized by a dioecious breeding system where self-fertilization is absent. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in May. The plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects, with bees serving as key pollinators. Following successful pollination, the plant produces indehiscent fruit classified as a berry, which maintains an average width of 0.8 cm. The dispersal of seeds follows a zoochorous strategy, specifically endozoochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a minimum mass of 0.003 g, a maximum mass of 0.003 g, and a calculated mean seed mass of approximately 0.006081 g. There is no recorded evidence of asexual reproduction in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

0.8 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.003 g

Seed mass mean:

0.006081 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ribes rubrum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Ribes rubrum has 76 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ascorbic acid, ALUMINUM, ARSENIC, Amines, Ash.

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

Amines

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BORIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

BORON

1. Dr. Duke

BROMINE

1. Dr. Duke

CADMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Ribes rubrum has 455 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antispasmodic, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food biochemistry
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food biochemistry

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Ribes rubrum has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetic complications, dyslipidemia, gastrointestinal disorders, hyperglycemia, inflammation.

Diabetic complications

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Dyslipidemia

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hyperglycemia

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Inflammation

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Platelet activation

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Preparations

Ribes rubrum has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts.

Extracts

1. Journal of food biochemistry
2. Scientific reports