Ribes missouriense - (image 1 of 5)
Taxonomy
Family: Grossulariaceae
Habitat
Woods, particularly ones that have been disturbed.
Associates
Distribution
Mostly in the Midwest, east into PA, NJ, CT (but not NY) and south to VA, TN.
Morphology
Low shrub armed with stout spines. Leaves 3-5 lobed, the sinuses extending nearly to the middle, often soften hairy below when young. Flowers greenish-white; hypanthium elongate; stamens longer than the sepals; sepals reflexed. Fruit smooth, red to purple.
Notes
Flowers late March to late May
Wetland indicator: Upland
These plants grew wild in my backyard in northern IL and would bloom every year, but I would never find fruit on them. Perhaps animals got to them first. Although considered a weed in some places, it is listed as endangered in NJ, OH, and PA.
References
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
Swink, F. and G.
Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
USDA, NRCS. 2002.
The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov).
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
|
Michael Hough © 2005 |