Skunk Currant Ribes glandulosum
Family: Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage)
Branching: Alternate


There are several other species of Currant (and the closely related Gooseberries, which have bristly and thorny stems) and they all have maple-like leaves.  Skunk Currant is one of the more obvious, which large red buds.  As its name suggests, all parts of the plant have a "skunk-like" odour when crushed.  They are one of the only plants with such red buds.  It is usually a sprawling plant but occasionally grows more-or-less upright.


Winter twig of Skunk Currant


Another view of the winter twig


End bud and clustered leaf scars


Red leaves in the fall, and end bud


Winter twig




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copyright © 2008 Josh Sayers
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