Taxonomy
Ribes nigrum | Black Currant | Cuirín dubh
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Not protected
Native status
Neophyte
Invasiveness
Invasive species - risk of Medium Impact
Irish status
Established
Introduction pathways - 1
Escape from Confinement
Introduction pathways subclass - 1
Horticulture
Invasive score
14
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
No
Species Biology
Identification
Erect deciduous shrub , 1-2m tall, 5 lobed green leaves with shiny black berries (Booy et al., 2015).
Ecology
Outcompetes native vegetation (Booy et al., 2015), considered naturalised due to the long history of cultivation.
Habitat
Woodland, forest and other wooded land; Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural or domestic habitat; Constructed, industrial or other artificial habitats,
Life cycle
Perennial
Ex-situ conservation
Not known
Use
Food crop
Vegetative nature
Woody
Pathway and vector description
Imported into Britain in the 17th century from Holland (Preston et al., 2004), cultivated in Ireland and present prior to 1866 (Reynolds, 2002). Widely planted in gardens as a hedging plant and for berries.
Mechanism of impact
Competition
Broad environment
Terrestrial
Habitat description
Damp woodlands and riverbanks.
Species group
Plant
Native region
North America
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Established - Widespread, locally abundant, possibly under recorded.
Native distribution
Boreal species: native to parts of the northern temperate forests of the northern Hemisphere and widely naturalised elsewhere (Preston et al., 2004).
Temporal change
Date of first record category
Pre-1900
Fifty year date category
Unknown
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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Further information
A widespread garden escape most likely bird-sown. A fruit crop native to central and northern Europe and northern Asia. Used in desserts and preserves.
References
Publications
Reynolds, S.C.P. (2002) A catalogue of alien plants in Ireland. National Botanic Gardens. Glasnevin, Dublin. Preston, C.D., Pearman, D. A. & Dines, T. D. (2002). New atlas of the British and Irish flora. An atlas of the vascular plants of Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, Oxford University Press. Booy, O., Wade, M. & Roy, H. (2015) A Field Guide to Invasive Plants & Animals in Britain. Bloomsbury.