ID a sweet-smelling plant.
January 9, 2009 10:30 AM Subscribe
What is this plant? Its leaves smelled great. Located in the SF bay area, hiking near Livermore.
Response by poster: Yeah, sorry about the focus thing. My camera's preview screen has become somewhat unreliable in its old age.
posted by kenko at 10:53 AM on January 9, 2009
posted by kenko at 10:53 AM on January 9, 2009
Actually, I may retract that guess. It really doesn't look much like a gooseberry plant.
posted by devilsbrigade at 10:54 AM on January 9, 2009
posted by devilsbrigade at 10:54 AM on January 9, 2009
Best answer: It's a currant or gooseberry (Ribes sp.). Here's a link to some that are native to Ca. http://www.laspilitas.com/groups/ribes_currant_gooseberry/Ribes_currants_of_california.html
posted by shrabster at 10:54 AM on January 9, 2009
posted by shrabster at 10:54 AM on January 9, 2009
Also, currant plants smell very nice...so I'm pretty sure of the ID even with the blurry photo.
posted by shrabster at 10:56 AM on January 9, 2009
posted by shrabster at 10:56 AM on January 9, 2009
Response by poster: Chaparral currant looks highly plausible.
posted by kenko at 11:20 AM on January 9, 2009
posted by kenko at 11:20 AM on January 9, 2009
Definitely a Ribes. After the flowers you should get little black currants. They're not poisonous, so far as I'm aware, but they don't taste all that good.
I used to have one that smelled of cat urine when it was pruned.
posted by Solomon at 11:49 AM on January 9, 2009
I used to have one that smelled of cat urine when it was pruned.
posted by Solomon at 11:49 AM on January 9, 2009
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posted by devilsbrigade at 10:45 AM on January 9, 2009