Northern Redcurrant 628117 196807520 2008-03-08T17:15:37Z Eubot 231599 Removed taxobox colour. See [[User:Eubot/Removing colours from taxoboxen]]. {{Taxobox | name = Northern Redcurrant | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Saxifragales]] | familia = [[Grossulariaceae]] | genus = ''[[Ribes]]'' | species = '''''R. triste''''' | binomial = ''Ribes triste'' | binomial_authority = [[Peter Simon Pallas|Pall.]] }} '''Northern Redcurrant''' or '''Swamp Redcurrant''' (''Ribes triste'') is a [[shrub]] in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Grossulariaceae]], native to northern [[North America]] in [[Alaska]], [[Canada]], and the [[United States]] south to [[Oregon]] and [[Virginia]]. It grows to 0.5 m tall, with a lax, often creeping branches. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, palmately lobed with five lobes, 6-10 cm diameter. The [[flower]]s are in pendulous [[raceme]]s 4-7 cm long, each flower small, purplish. The [[fruit]] is a bright red [[berry]], without the hairs that some [[Ribes|currant]]s have. ===Uses=== The [[Dena'ina (tribe)|Dena'ina]] and other [[Indigenous people of the Americas|Native Americans]] use the berries as a food source. The Dena'ina names ''nunazk'et'i'', which means "that which hangs down" and ''jeghdenghult'ila'' "ear it's tied onto" refer to the berries. It is said that the latter name relates to the idea that the hanging fruit resembles earrings. Among the currants that grown in their country, the Dena'ina favor the northern red currant and the [[Trailing black currant]] for food. According to Osgood, red currants are also used for medicine. They were "skinned", placed in boiling water, and then wrapped and used as a [[poultice]] for sore eyes. for the Inland people, the stem and bark of this plant is made into medicine for colds, flu, and tuberculosis by boiling the plant and taking the decoction internally. Some people prefer to use either the stem or bark while others use both parts. The Dena'ina use the cooled tea as a wash for sore eyes, too. The Inland people also make a wash for the eyes of puppies from the leaves of the Northern red current. [[Category:Saxifragales]] {{Saxifragales-stub}}