An unarmed deciduous shrub 6 to 10 ft high; young shoots glabrous, except for a little loose down at first. Leaves handsomely five- or seven-lobed, 3 to 7 in. (sometimes more) wide, the lobes palmate, reaching half or more than half-way to the midrib, sharply and irregularly toothed, dotted with resin-glands beneath, bright green and soon quite glabrous above; stalk slender, often longer than the blade, glabrous except for a few bristles at the base. Racemes produced in May, erect, slender, up to 8 in. long. Flowers numerous, greenish yellow, erect, 1⁄3 in. across, each on a slender, slightly downy stalk about 1⁄4 in. long. Fruits erect, resin-dotted, globose, 1⁄3 in. in diameter, black with a blue-white bloom. Bot. Mag., t. 7419.
Native of western N. America; discovered by Douglas in 1826. An interesting species of the black currant group, very distinct in its large maple-like leaves (occasionally 10 in. across) and long, slender, erect racemes. Rarely seen, but quite hardy at Kew.