Ribes triste

Swamp Red Currant

Leaf Bottom

Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park
31-May-2008

Note the petiole is flattened and winged at the base.

The Ribes genus was previously placed within a traditional version of the Saxifragaceae family which included a great many diverse genera.  That version of the Saxifragaceae family is now considered to be polyphyletic, and the family is now much reduced.  Ribes has been moved to a new family called Grossulariaceae, within which Ribes is the only genus.  Budd's Flora (1987) still places Ribes in Saxifragaceae, while Flora of Alberta (1994) places it in Grossulariaceae.  Budd's Flora refers to this species as R. rubrum.

Triste: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF)  and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this species. 
stems not spiny, or spines only at the nodes; NOT [stems densely spiny along the internodes] (BF)
stems not prickly; NOT [stems more or less prickly] (FOA)
stems not bristly; NOT [stems usually bristly] (FOA)
leaves plicate (folded) in the bud; NOT [leaves convolute (rolled) in the bud]
lobes of leaves closely and uniformly serrate from base to tip; NOT [lobes of leaves coarsely dentate above the middle]
leaves without resinous glands; NOT [leaves dotted beneath with resinous glands or bearing stalked glands]
inflorescence an elongated raceme, flowers numerous; NOT [inflorescence a reduced raceme, 1- to 3- flowered]
pedicles jointed below the ovary
pedicels often minutely glandular
flowers regular; NOT [flowers slightly irregular]
flowers not golden yellow; NOT [flowers golden yellow to somewhat reddish]
fruits reddish or blue-black when mature; NOT [fruits black when mature]
ovary and fruit glabrous, or with a few sessile glands; NOT [ovary and fruit more or less densely glandular pubescent]

 

Grossulariaceae: Answers to key questions in Flora of Alberta leading to this family.  Note these answers only apply to the unarmed members of the family.
shrubs; NOT [herbs]
plants NOT aquatic
plants green; NOT [plants white, pink or reddish brown]
plants unarmed; NOT [plants armed with prickles, spines or thorns]
leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite or whorled]
leaves well developed; NOT [leaves reduced to scales]
leaves not needle-like; NOT [leaves needle-like 5-10 mm long]
perianth biseriate (i.e. of two different series of appendages, the inner generally larger, coloured, the outer generally smaller, greenish); NOT [perianth uniseriate (i.e. of only one series of appendages all more or less the same) or entirely absent]
corolla of separate petals; NOT [corolla of united petals, or only 2 or 3 petals connate or united and the flowers markedly irregular] (Note: the bases of the sepals, petals, and stamens of Grossulariaceae are fused to create a hypanthium which arises from the top of the inferior ovary.  Above the hypanthium the petals are distinct.)
stamens alternate with the petals; NOT [stamens opposite the petals]
stamens 5
ovary inferior; NOT [ovary superior]
fruit yellow, red or black; NOT [fruit white or orange-red]
fruit several-seeded; NOT [fruit 1-seeded]
NOT [plants 1-2 dm tall, with small appressed leaves; pubescent; flowers yellow; of sandy habitats]