Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)

Beacon Rock, Columbia Gorge, WA  4/2012.

“The Latin name sanguineum refers to the blood-red color of the flowers.  The shrub was first described and collected by David Douglas for whom the Douglas Fir is named.  From the sale of red flowering currant seeds back in England, Douglas made enough money to pay for his entire two-year excursion to North America.  American Indians ate red flowering currant berries, although they were not a favorite fruit.”   George Wuerthner in Oregon’s Best Wildflower Hikes Northwest Region.