| Ribes lacustre | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Grossulariaceae |
| Genus: | Ribes |
| Species: | R. lacustre
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ribes lacustre | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
The shrub Ribes lacustre is known by the common names prickly currant, black swamp gooseberry, and black gooseberry.[2] It is widely distributed in North America.
The shrub grows erect to spreading, .5–2 metres (1+1⁄2–6+1⁄2 feet). Clusters of reddish to maroon flowers bloom from April through August.[3] Racemes of 5 to 15 pink disk-shaped flowers hang from stems covered with short hairs, bristles and spines.[4] The fruit consists of dark purple berries 6–8 millimetres (1⁄4–5⁄16 inch) long.
It is widely distributed, from California to Alaska and across North America east to Pennsylvania and Newfoundland, and south as far as New Mexico.[5] It may be found in low-elevation forests and swamps all the way up to the subalpine.[3] Outside its native range, Ribes species may be invasive. Ribes is considered to be an extremely hardy species, capable of tolerating a wide range of soil types and conditions; as evidenced by its wide distribution.[6]
