Ribes viscosissimum


Ribes viscosissimum, also known as sticky currant, is a species of eudicot in the family Grossulariaceae. The species is native to North America.

Description

Ribes viscosissimum is a dicot and a perennial plant growing to in height, with a stem covered in sticky glandular hairs but lacking spines or bristles. It is resinous and fragrant. The leaves have thick, rough blades divided into three lobes with rounded, toothed tips, the lobes being approximately the same size. Typically, the blades are long, and the petioles are up to long.
Blooming in early summer, the inflorescence comprise erect or drooping clusters of 4–15 bell-shaped flowers. They have five whitish, green, or pink-tinged sepals that resemble a corolla at their tips, sometimes becoming reflexed. The stamens and stigmas are surrounded by whitish petals.
The berries are black, covered in bluish wax, and very gummy. Fruits are blue-black berries up to in length. They are unpalatable.

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to North America. Pacific Northwest, Columbia Plateau, Great Plains, Great Basin, and southwest regions of western North America are native to this plant. It grows at montane to lower subalpine elevations, along streambanks, in damp to dry woods, on sagebrush plateaus and rocky slopes.
R. viscosissimum was found in the states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington in high quantity. In Oregon, they were found in Grant County. In a Strawberry Wilderness on Slide Basin trail #372 on lower switchback of trail to Slide Lake below ridge between Strawberry and Slide Basins. They were at an elevation of. In Idaho they were found in Bonner County at Priest Lake State Forest, Selkirk Mountains, Laclede, Riley Creek Road, about 2.5 miles up Manley Creek Road. In Blaine County on trail to Amber Lakes from West Fork of North Fork of Big Wood River, north of Ketchum. In Caribou County at Caribou National Forest. Forest Road 95. From Hwy 34 drive up road 107 to Valley Creek. Along Forest Road 107 about 2.5 air miles SW of Stump Peak.

Ecology

There have been reports of the following animal species as pollinators of this plant species or its genus where they overlap in geographical range: Bombus vagans, B. bifarius, B. centralis, B. fervidus, B. flavifrons, B. huntii, B. melanopygus, B. mixtus, B. nevadensis, B. terricola, B. sitkensis, and B. occidentalis.

Conservation status

It is common, widespread, and abundant. Not vulnerable in most of its range. Exhibits an intermediate range of ecological tolerance, typifies a stable phase of a native community, and persists but does not thrive with some natural or human disturbance

Propagation

As soon as the seeds are mature in the autumn, they should be sowed in a cool body. Prior to sowing, cold stratifying stored seed at -2 to 0 °C for 3 months is commonly advised. Under normal garage conditions, the seed can last for 17 years or longer. Prick out the seedlings pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, putting them out in late spring the following year. Half-ripe wood cuttings, 10 – 15 cm with a heel, July/August in a body. November through February, in a cold body or sheltered mattress outside, cuttings of mature timber from the current year's boom, preferably with a heel from the previous year's increase. Its tree is a huge plant with a single trunk that grows in girth with age and branches that is not precisely defined but often exceeds four meters in height.

Allergenicity

The species has not been linked to any allergies, but is not edible.