''Ribes spicatum'', the downy currant or Nordic currant, is a species in the genus ''
Ribes'', native to northern Europe and northern Asia.
Its bright red berries are edible and quite goodtasting. It can be differentiated from the more common redcurrant (''
Ribes rubrum'') not so much by its leaf hairs, as these tend to fall off as the leaf ages, but by other characteristics: the leaves of ''R.spicatum'' are a duller and darker green than ''R.rubrum'' with its paler yellowishgreen leaves. ''R.spicatum'' holds its leaves at a right angle to the stem, whereas ''R.rubrum'' leaves are less erect, markedly distinguishing the overall form of the bushes. ''R.spicatum'' has green
petioles, but ''R.rubrum'' petioles are more orangeish.
Subspecies
The following subspecies is currently accepted:
*''Ribes spicatum'' subsp. ''hispidulum''
(Janch.) L.Hämet-Ahti
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q149485
spicatum
Plants described in 1796