16 Wyoming Experiment Station. 



CURRANT. 

 (Ribes). 



The currants are devoid of spines and prickles and unlike 

 the ordinary gooseberries their berries are several or many in 

 a cluster. The red (Ribes rubrum L.) and black garden (Ribes 

 nigrum L.) currants cultivated in the United States are of 

 European origin. The American currants have not as yet 

 given rise to any cultural varieties of great value. The first two 

 native currants given below have the large leaves of the garden 

 black currant and are very similar to it. 



Wild Black Currant (Ribes Americanum Mill.) 



A native black currant with large leaves, one to four inches 

 broad and resinous-dotted beneath. It has white tubular flow- 

 ers in drooping clusters, the parts of which are minutely hairy. 

 This currant is rare in the state, being known only from two 

 localities in east central Wyoming. It is almost unknown in 

 cultivation, but appears to be worthy the attention of fruit gar- 

 deners, as the good-sized musky-flavored berries borne in clus- 

 ters may be capable of improvement. 



Northern Black Currant (Ribes Hudsonianum Rich.) 



This currant has the large leaves and black berries of the pre- 

 ceding, but the clusters of white flowers stand erect, and the 

 individual flowers are shorter and more expanded. It has been 

 found in the Yellowstone National Park. 



Pursh's Currant (Ribes vise osissimum Pursh). 



A bushy shrub, 2-6 feet high, with hairy and sticky foliage 

 and young branches. Its leaves are roundish in outline, one to 

 three inches broad and in appearance somewhat resembling 

 those of the mallows. It has rather large viscid, greenish-white 

 flowers (or sometimes purplish tinged), borne in short clus- 

 ters. The berries are black, rough and hairy and of an unpleas- 

 ant flavor. 



This currant is found in the northwestern part of Wyoming, 

 where it is not uncommon in dry open woods or on open 



