Ribes rubrum L.

Unarmed, deciduous, scarcely aromatic shrub usually 0.5–1.5 m high; branches and shoots erect, slightly hairy when young. Lvs plicately folded in bud, with petioles to c. 8 cm long, slightly clasping at base; lamina broadly deltoid, 6–11 × 8–13 cm, often smaller on upper part of flowering stems, deeply palmately lobed, with 3–5 coarsely toothed, deltoid lobes, glabrate, dull and slightly rugose above, slightly to moderately hairy beneath, especially on veins; glands 0; base cordate or subcordate. Racemes pendent, usually 10–20-flowered; fls not fragrant. Hypanthium c. 1 mm diam., broadly campanulate, green, glabrous. Sepals c. 2–2.5 mm long, broadly obcuneate, green, reflexed at anthesis. Petals 0.5–0.7 mm long, ± rectangular and slightly obovate, green. Filaments c. 0.5 mm long. Fr. 5–10 mm diam., globose, red and shining, occasionally white, translucent, glabrous; flesh sweet.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Sep.–Nov.–(Dec.); Fruiting: Dec.–Feb.