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Plant Profile

Moreno Currant (Ribes canthariforme)

Photo Credit: Joe Davitt

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Grossulariaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 130903
Lifeform: Shrub
Date Inducted in National Collection: 10/16/2019

Description:

This rare, woody shrub is distinguished from other Ribes species by its fleshy green leaves and purple colored flowers. It has only been found in a small area of San Diego County.

Where is Moreno Currant (Ribes canthariforme) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Occurs in chaparral at higher elevations, generally near a water source such as a stream or seasonal wash.

Distribution:

This species is endemic to the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountain region of San Diego County. Found from 300-1200 meters above sea level. The species is known from 27 occurrences, many of which are historical and unverified.

States & Provinces:

Moreno Currant can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Moreno Currant (Ribes canthariforme)?

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 10/16/19

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

10/10/2020

In June of 2019, SDZG made a seed collection from the plants occurring on BLM land around El Cajon Mountain. Seed was collected from 23 individuals. The population contains fewer than 50 individuals, young or small individuals produced few or no flowers. A subset of individuals were bagged before the seed fully ripened to avoid bird predation. It was effective but probably not necessary if harvested in a timely manner. This conservation seed collection contains 2,557 seeds.

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, San Diego Zoo Global holds 1 accessions of Ribes canthariforme in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 2906 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

08/05/2020

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, San Diego Zoo Global has collected 1 seed accessions of Ribes canthariforme from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 23 maternal plants

Joe Davitt

11/01/2019

Joe Davitt

11/01/2019

The species is known from 27 occurrences, though many are close geographically, and many are historic and not verified. Because this is a woody perennial, I would suggest that the populations are geographically large, though number of individuals in a population may be small. The population we monitored was located in several different damp washes on the northern slope of El Cajon Mountain. Individuals were as far as 1/2 a mile from one another, occurring in clusters but clearly still part of the same population. In looking at the occurrence map, I'd suggest there are likely 10-15 distinctly isolated populations. Most of these populations are remote and occur on conserved lands. Many are in the Cleveland National Forest. They are potentially threatened by recreation, increased fire frequency, and invasive weeds, but most populations are likely stable. More research and observation is needed to verify population numbers, and historic locations.

Joe Davitt

11/01/2019

Populations are stable but are potentially threatened by recreational activities, increased fire frequency, and invasive species. Because it currently occurs at relatively high elevations, climate change might prove to be a threat as the species has limited ability to migrate to higher elevations if needed.

Joe Davitt

11/01/2019

Verification of historic population locations is needed.

Joe Davitt

10/22/2019

Seed collections from other populations should be targeted. Most other individuals occur in the Cleveland National Forest.