About Ribes amarum Mc Clatchie
Ribes amarum is a shrub that reaches 1 to 2 meters (40 to 80 inches) in height. Each node along its stem holds three spines, each growing up to 1 centimeter (0.4 inch) long. Its leaves are hairy, glandular, generally rounded in shape, 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long, and divided into 3 to 5 rounded, toothed lobes. The inflorescence is either a single solitary flower or a raceme of up to three flowers that hang from leaf axils. Each showy flower has five pointed purple-red sepals that curve reflexed upward. At the center of the flower is a tubular corolla made of white or pink-tinged petals, surrounding five stamens and two styles. The fruit is a bristly berry up to 2 centimeters wide; it is bright red when young and ripens to purple.
