IMPORTANT WESTERN BROWSE PLANTS 41 
katchewan, Idaho, Utah, and western Nebraska, are highly prized 
locally for their fruit. A number of the species (e. g., lobbii, pine- 
torum, and speciosa) are notably ornamental when in bloom. 
CURRANTS (RIBES SPP.) § 
Approximately 56 known species of currants occur natively in the 
Western States, if the gooseberries (Grossularia spp.), which many 
botanists unite with Ribes, are omitted. Asa group Ribes are only 
fairly to moderately palatable to livestock, except possibly to goats, 
but their abundance and size of herbage crop give them considerable 
forage significance on some ranges. 
Wax currant (fibes cereum) (fig. 7) and squaw currant (PR. 
inebrians), the latter frequently known also as rock currant and wine 
currant, two very similar species with small roundish leaves and 
whitish or pinkish flowers, are two of the commonest and most widely 
distributed species of this genus. These shrubs are common on dry, 
open slopes, frequently being among the dominant species of the 
locality, and on warm days filling the air with their characteristic 
musky odor. While their palatability is not as a rule high, at least 
in spring and summer, their abundance and the amount of herbage 
produced are so great that they are sometimes important factors in 
the carrying capacity, and their freedom from spines, rounded con- 
formation, and mostly rather open stand are conducive to utilization. 
Analyses show that wax currant is nutritious, with a high protein 
content (143, p. 38). 
Golden currant (/7. awrewm) occurs in all the far Western States, 
largely along stream banks. Its palatability varies from poor or 
fair to (for sheep) fairly good. 
Gooseberry currant (7. montigenum), sometimes known as cloud- 
cap currant and false gooseberry, a smail straggling bush 1 to 2 feet 
high occurring up to alpine elevations in the high mountains from 
British Columbia to California, New Mexico, and Montana, is, 
despite its usually small leaves and gooseberrylike prickliness, a 
species of more than average palatability. 
Winter currant (2. sanguineuwm), known also as blood currant, 
with aromatic blood-colored fiowers and bright-blue berries, is a 
very showy upland, riparian species of the Pacific region. In Wash- 
ington, where it frequently comes in on Douglas fir burns, it is 
regarded as good for sheep and fair for cattle. 
Sticky currant (/. viscosissimum), known also as hairy currant 
and sandbox currant, is a widely distributed and common species, 
occurring in mountain woods from British Columbia to California, 
Utah, Colorado, and Montana. It isa small or medium-sized, gland- 
ular-hairy bush with rather large leaves and black berries. This 
species, of which in general the palatability is fairly good, produces 
an enormous quantity of herbage which has the advantage of remain- 
ing green throughout the entire season until killing frosts occur. 
8 The aeciospores and urediniospores of the fungus (Cronartiwm ribicola) causing white 
pine blister rust infest, as the specific name intimates, species of this genus (29). Since 
this disease has now spread to parts of the West these native currants, many of which 
are undoubtedly potential alternate hosts for the disease, have assumed great silvicuitural 
importance. There is still, however, much to learn regarding the relative. susceptibility 
of our native currants and gooseberries to this fungus and the potential réle they may 
play in the spread or control of the disease. 
