About Ribes triste Pall.
Ribes triste Pall. is a shrub that grows up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) tall, with lax, often creeping branches. Its leaves are alternate, 6–10 cm (2+1⁄4–4 inches) across, hairy on the underside, and palmate with 3 to 5 lobes. Flowering occurs from June to July, when 6–13 small purplish flowers grow in pendulous racemes that are 4–7 cm (1+1⁄2–2+3⁄4 inches) long. The axis of the raceme is glandular. Its fruit is a bright red berry with no hairs, a trait seen in some other currant species, and the berry has a rather sour taste. Ribes triste is widespread across Canada, the northern United States, and eastern Asia including Russia, China, Korea, and Japan. It grows in wet rocky woods, swamps, and cliffs. Medicinally, multiple Indigenous groups use this plant for different treatments. The Ojibwe use a decoction made from the root and stalk to treat kidney stones (known as 'gravel'), use a compound decoction of the stalk to reduce excessive menstruation, and use the leaves as a 'female remedy'. The Upper Tanana use a decoction of the stems (with bark removed) as a wash for sore eyes.
