Ribes malvaceum

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Ordo: Saxifragales

Familia: Grossulariaceae
Genus: Ribes
Subgenus: Ribes subg. Ribes
Sectio: Ribes sect. Calobotrya
Species: Ribes malvaceum
Name

Ribes malvaceum Sm., 1815
Synonyms

Ribes malvaceum var. clementinum Dunkle, Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 42: 32 (1943)
Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium Abrams
Ribes watkinsii Eastw., Leafl. W. Bot. 1: 230 (1936)
Ribes purpurascens A.Heller, Muhlenbergia 4: 29 (1908)
Ribes viridifolium (Abrams) A.Heller, Muhlenbergia 1: 77 (1904)

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Southwestern USA
California
Regional: Mexico
Mexico Northwest

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Smith, J.E. in A. Rees, 1815. The Cyclopaedia 30: Ribes no. 13.

Additional references

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2009). Flora of North America North of Mexico 8: 1-585. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
Villaseñor, J.L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 87: 559–902. DOI: 10.1016/j.rmb.2016.06.017 Online PDF Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Ribes malvaceum in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Sep 27. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. Sep 27. Ribes malvaceum. Published online. Accessed: {{{3}}} Sep 27.
Tropicos.org 2021. Ribes malvaceum. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 27 Sep 2021.
Hassler, M. 2021. Ribes malvaceum. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Sep 27. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Ribes malvaceum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 2021 Sep 27.

Vernacular names
English: chaparral currant

Ribes malvaceum, the chaparral currant, is a member of the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry family). It is native to California and northern Baja California, where it occurs from sea level to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), in chaparral, foothill oak woodland, and closed-cone pine forest habitats.[1]

Description

Ribes malvaceum typically grows 5–10 feet (1.5–3.0 m) tall.[2] This perennial shrub lacks the characteristic nodal spines which are demonstrated on the stems of many other members in the genus Ribes. The leaf blades (20–50 mm) are densely hairy, glandular, and double toothed.[3]

Inflorescences are 10-25 flowered and open, occurring October to April in native range. The hypanthium (5–8 mm) is pink and about twice as long as it is wide. The sepals are pink-purple in color and are 4–6 mm. Petals are 2–3 mm and can range in color from pink shades to white. The flower also contains two fused styles which are fused to the tip and have a hairy base.[3]

Striking glaucous purple berries are produced. The (6–7 mm fruit is glandular and covered by white hairs.[3]
Varieties

There are several varieties of R. malvaceum:

Ribes malvaceum var. clementinum — (Dunkle) [3]
Ribes malvaceum var. malvaceum — plants with dark green leaves occurring below 800 metres (2,600 ft).[3][4]
Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium — (Abrams) — plants with bright green leaves occurring up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) [3][5]

Cultivation

Ribes malvaceum is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty plant nurseries. It is used in traditional gardens, native plant landscapes, and as bird food source in habitat gardens.[2] It thrives under oaks in bright dry conditions, and in many other locations.[2][6]

Pollination ecologists have reported the plant important as a honey plant for attracting large numbers of native bees.[2]
References

Jepson . accessed 1.23.2013
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database—NPIN — Ribes malvaceum . accessed 1.23.2013
Ribes malvaceum in Flora of North America . @ efloras.org . accessed 1.23.2013
Calflora.org: Ribes malvaceum var. malvaceum
Calflora.org: Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium
Las Pilitas Nursery (natives): Ribes malvaceum, Pink Chaparral currant . accessed 1.23.2013