Description:
A decidious Shrub growing to 1.2m.
Redcurrant is a deciduous shrub normally
growing to 1-1.5 m tall, occasionally 2 m, with five-lobed leaves
arranged spirally on the stems. The flowers are inconspicuous
yellow-green, in pendulous 4-8 cm racemes, maturing into bright
red translucent edible berries about 8-12 mm diameter, with 3-10
berries on each raceme.
Distribution and habitat:
Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; North Wall By;
East Wall By.
The Redcurrant (Ribes rubrum) is a member of the genus Ribes
in the gooseberry family Grossulariaceae, native to parts of
western Europe (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and northern
Italy).
There are several other very similar species native in Europe,
Asia and North America, also with edible fruit, though usually
considered to have an inferior flavour. These include Ribes
spicatum (northern Europe and northern Asia), R. schlechtendalii
(northeast Europe), R. multiflorum (southeast Europe), R. petraeum
(southwest Europe) and R. triste (North America; Newfoundland
to Alaska and southward in mountains).
Hystory:
Parts used:
Fruit
Constituens:
Edible Uses:
Edible Parts: Fruit.
Fruit - raw or cooked. A pleasant acid flavour, it can be eaten
out of hand but is more often cooked in pies, jams etc. There
are rather a lot of seeds in each fruit.
Medicinal Uses:
Antirheumatic;
Antiscorbutic;
Aperient;
Poultice;
Refrigerant;
Sialagogue.
The fruit is
antiscorbutic,
aperient,
depurative,
digestive,
diuretic,
laxative,
refrigerant and
sialagogue.
The leaves contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide. A concoction
of them is used externally to relieve rheumatic symptoms. They
are also used in poultices
to relieve sprains or reduce the pain of dislocations.
Others Uses:
Cosmetict;
Dye.
A yellow dye is
obtained from the leaves. A black dye is
obtained from the fruit. The fruit is used cosmetictally
in face-masks for firming up tired and lifeless skin.
Safety:
The fresh leaves contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide, though
details of quantities are not given. This substance is found
in several foods, including almonds. In small quantities, hydrogen
cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion,
it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer.
In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even
death.
