About Ribes spicatum E.Robson
Ribes spicatum E.Robson, commonly called downy currant or Nordic currant, is a shrub species in the Grossulariaceae family. It is native to northern Europe and northern Asia. Its bright red berries are edible and have a quite pleasant flavor. This species can be distinguished from the more common redcurrant (Ribes rubrum) by multiple traits rather than leaf hairs, because R. spicatum leaf hairs typically fall off as leaves age. The leaves of R. spicatum are a duller and darker green than the paler yellowish-green leaves of R. rubrum. R. spicatum holds its leaves at a right angle to the stem, while R. rubrum leaves are less erect, which creates a clear difference in the overall shape of the bushes. R. spicatum has green petioles, while R. rubrum petioles are more orange in color.
