Black currant (Ribes nigrum) is a deciduous shrub of the family Saxifragaceae native to Asia, north and central Europe. It has erect spineless twigs, and alternate stalked leaves that are three- to five-lobed, the lobes pointed and coarsely toothed. The flowers are small, greenish-white in colour and arranged in loose pendulous racemes in the leaf axils. The fruit is an edible - though very bitter - globose black berry.
Black currant has been cultivated for its fruit for hundreds of years, and has been used as a general tonic - presumably due to its high vitamin C content - since at least the 16th century. Research Black Currant
Currant is the name of two well-known shrubs of the order Grossulariaceae, cultivated in gardens for their fruit. The red currant, Ribes rubrum, the fruit of which is used principally for tarts and jellies, is a native of southern Europe, Asia, and North America. The white currant is a cultivated variety of the red, and is used chiefly for dessert and for conversion into wine. The black currant, Rines nigrum, a native to most parts of Europe, and found abundantly in Russia and Siberia, is used for tarts and puddings and for a fine jelly recommended in cases of sore throat. Other currants naturalized in Britain are the ornamental Ribes aureum from Western America, which produces a fine berry, and Ribes sanguineum, the flowering currant, which is insipid but non-poisonous. Many species are indigenous in America. In Australia the name is given to Leucopogen Richei, one of the Epacridaceae, and in Tasmania to certain species of Coprosma, of the natural order Cinchonaceae. The Indian currant of America is the snow-berry, Symphoricarpus racemosus. Research Currant
Currant is the name of two well-known shrubs of the order Grossulariaceae, cultivated in gardens for their fruit. The red currant, Ribes rubrum, the fruit of which is used principally for tarts and jellies, is a native of southern Europe, Asia, and North America. The white currant is a cultivated variety of the red, and is used chiefly for dessert and for conversion into wine. The black currant, Rines nigrum, a native to most parts of Europe, and found abundantly in Russia and Siberia, is used for tarts and puddings and for a fine jelly recommended in cases of sore throat. Other currants naturalized in Britain are the ornamental Ribes aureum from Western America, which produces a fine berry, and Ribes sanguineum, the flowering currant, which is insipid but non-poisonous. Many species are indigenous in America. In Australia the name is given to Leucopogen Richei, one of the Epacridaceae, and in Tasmania to certain species of Coprosma, of the natural order Cinchonaceae. The Indian currant of America is the snow-berry, Symphoricarpus racemosus. Research Currant
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Black Currant
