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Skunk Currant Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family) Description General - ascending to trailing shrub, to 1 m tall; strong skunky odour when bruised; branches have no prickles or bristles.
Flowers - 6-15 in erect or ascending clusters; whitish to pink, with gland-tipped hairs; stalks jointed, bear gland-tipped hairs; sepals, 2-2.5 mm long, without hairs on outside; petals longer than broad; appearing in June. Fruit - dark red berries, about 6 mm across, bristly, with stalked glands, disagreeable odour and flavour; ripening in July and August. Habitat Moist woods, thickets, rocky slopes and clearings, across NW Ontario's boreal region. Notes The Skunk Currant is easily distinguished from other Ribes species by its skunk-like odour. However, berries of the Skunk Currant are very tasty when fresh.
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Leaves - maple-leaf-shaped, 5-7 lobes, 2-7 cm across; lobes pointed and sharp-toothed; fresh
green, hairless or with sparse gland-tipped hairs on veins below.