Botanical Name :Ribes himalense
Family: Grossulariaceae
Genus: Ribes
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Saxifragales
Synonyms: R. emodense. Rehd.
Habitat : Ribes himalense is native to E. Asia – Himalayas to China. It grows in the Mixed, coniferous, or broad-leaved forests and forest margins, thickets on mountain slopes, river banks, or in ravines, grasslands on mountain slopes, mountain valleys, stream banks, roadsides.
Description:
Ribes himalense is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft 7in). It is in flower from Apr to June, and the seeds ripen from Aug to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Cultivation:
Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality. Plants are quite tolerant of shade though do not fruit so well in such a position. Hardy to about -20°c. This species is closely related to R. petraeum. Plants can harbour a stage of white pine blister rust, so should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.
Propagation:
Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 4 – 5 months cold stratification at between 0 to 9°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Under normal storage conditions the seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 – 15cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year’s growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year’s growth, November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors
Edible Uses:
Fruit – raw or cooked. The fruit is quite large, but so are the seeds. The fruit is red, turning purplish black on maturity and is about 7mm in diameter.
Medicinal Uses:
Astringent; Poultice.
The juice of the leaf is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery. A paste of the leaves is applied to cuts and wounds.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribes_himalense
http://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ribes+himalense
