Ribes nigrum L., Black Currant
Account Summary
Introduced, neophyte, garden escape or doubtfully native. Frequent, widely and rather evenly spread throughout the county.
1947; MCM & D; Lough Bigwood, 1 km NNE of Rossharbour Bay, Lower Lough Erne.
March to October.
Growth form, status and preferred habitats
In the Revised Typescript Flora, Meikle et al. 1975 stated that in Fermanagh (and thus by implication in Ireland in general), "this species is too readily assumed to be a garden escape". Here in Fermanagh, as elsewhere in B & I, R. nigrum is a frequently found and very characteristic shrub growing up to 2 m in damp or even swampy fen-carr scrub woodland, hedgerows and shaded streamsides. It is very easily distinguished at all seasons by the strong perfume of its buds and leaves.
Earlier standard Floras of B & I (eg Clapham et al. 1962) and some recent local Floras in S & SE England have regarded this strongly smelling currant as being of mixed native and introduced status (eg Brewis et al. 1996; Beckett et al. 1999). In Cumbria, Halliday (1997) appears to have allowed its native status in every station. At the same time, arguing against this point of view, we know from the researched history of the garden form of the plant, that it was imported to Britain from Holland shortly after 1600 and first appeared in the wild in 1660 (Roach 1985). Recent Floras now recognise this species is a neophyte introduction and accept that plants found in the wild are of garden origin, often bird-sown (Sell & Murrell 2014).
Fermanagh occurrence

R. nigrum is over five times more frequently recorded in Fermanagh than R. rubrum (Red Currant), both fruit currant bushes occurring in exactly the same types of semi-natural lakeshore habitats. In Fermanagh, R. nigrum is now recorded in a total of 98 tetrads, 18.6% of those in the VC and it is remarkably evenly spread throughout the whole area. Robert Northridge and the current author (RSF) feel that this level of presence and its distribution suggests dual status (native and naturalised introductions) for Black Currant may deserve some further consideration. The strictures on weighing circumstantial evidence listed by Webb (1985) must however be remembered and invoked in any analysis of such weighty matters (Forbes 2000).
Irish occurrence
As is the case with other representatives of this genus, the New Atlas distribution of R. nigrum in the RoI, while certainly quite frequent and widespread at the hectad level of distribution, at the same time remains rather sparse when compared with that north of the border in NI. This appears anomalous and requires investigation.
British occurrence
Very frequent and widespread throughout Britain in suitable damp or wet shaded sites, avoiding mainly the higher mountains and very acid peatlands (New Atlas).
European and world occurrence
Present in most of Europe, stretching northwards into Scandinavia and E to Siberia. Also, absent from most of the Mediterranean basin, but probably native only in C & E Europe and N & C Asia to the Himalayas. Biogeographically it is described as belonging to the Eurosiberian Boreo-temperate element, but it is widely introduced, cultivated and naturalised outside its native range (Sell & Murrell 2014).
Uses
Dried leaves can be used to make a herbal tea (like green tea) and is a weaker alternative to the more usual one made from raspberry leaves used for easing labour pains in childbirth. The leaf tea was also used as a diuretic. Folk records of the plant's use are dominated by blackcurrant juice, made from fresh or jellied fruit, which is very often prescribed for coughs, colds, chest complaints and gargles for sore throats (Grieve 1931; Roach 1985; Allen & Hatfield 2004). Nowadays, numerous named blackcurrant varieties have been produced in government funded horticulture research facilities designed to give high vitamin C content, resist aphids, ease harvesting and provide later season harvesting. Hybrids are now also being bred that will adapt the crop to changes in our climate. These forms are grown commercially in England to make the popular cordial 'Ribena'. In the past, blackcurrant was also used to flavour and colour wine, brandy and cheese and it is still used to make puddings, jelly and jam (Roach 1985; Grieve 1931).
In addition to herbal medicine and juice production, there are several decorative horticultural varieties of R. nigrum named, including forma apiifolium with dissected leaves; f. chlorocarpum with green fruits; f. coloratum with a white variegation; f. heterophyllum with leaves deeply cleft; f. marmoratum with leaves deeply cut and marbled cream and f. xanthocarpum with a fruit that is yellow to white in colour (Griffiths 1994).
Threats
None.