Description

Telling apart some members of the currant family can be a bit confusing, as there are quite a few members and some look quite similar. The Wild Red Currant lives in moist areas like woodlands and swamps and has maple leaf like leaves, though not as deeply cut. The greenish purplish flowers hang in chains and resemble tiny saucers. The fruit is smooth, shiny and bright red when ripe, and though tart, they are edible and have been used as food in many indigenous peoples’ diets. They have also been used medicinally as an eye wash and to stop menstruation though more research needs to clarify this.