The names "Currant" and "Gooseberry" are used interchangeably for various members of the Ribes genus, but no distinguishing characteristics help separate Currants from Gooseberries; what one person calls a Currant, another calls a Gooseberry.  Common names often lump different species of plants together.  This web site calls all members of the Ribes genus, "Currants".  (Read about plant names.)

     The name "Ribes" is of disputed meaning: one version states that "Ribes" comes from the Danish "ribs" a name for red currants.  Another version is that "Ribes" is from the Arabic name for similar plants.  We do know that Linnaeus named this genus in 1753.

   To red flowering Ribes.  To yellow flowering Ribes.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, streamsides. Spring.
Lizard Head Trail, June 9, 2006.

Ribes wolfii is common to abundant in relatively moist subalpine forests and is often seen along trails through Aspens.  Its handsome leaves resemble serrated miniature maple leaves.  R. wolfii grows from four to six feet tall and wide, has gray bark, and its branches have no thorns.  Tiny, but very obvious, sprays of white flowers protrude from stem tips but unfortunately most often do not produce fruit.  The rare berries that one does find are black and minutely hairy.  One frequently sees R. wolfii in the company of R. inerme and R. montigenum. 

John Wolf was a respected 19th century plant collector.  (More biographical information.)

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, streamsides. Spring.
Horse Creek Trail, June 19, 2004.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, streamsides. Spring.
Lake Hope Trail, July 15, 2008.

Ribes wolfii ripening berries.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, streamsides. Spring.
Lizard Head Trail, July 11, 2008.

Ribes wolfii often spreads a mat of gray branches horizontally and close to the ground.