|
Habitats
|
|
|
Cultivated Beds;
|
|
Edible Uses
|
|
Edible Parts: Flowers; Stem.
Edible Uses: Colouring; Rutin.
Leaf stem - raw or cooked[1, 2, 46, 105, 200]. An acid taste, it is used as a fruit substitute in spring, usually stewed with sugar and used in pies, jams etc[183]. The juice strained from stewed rhubarb can add colour and flavour to a fruit punch[183]. It is best not to eat large quantities of the stems because of their oxalic acid content - see the notes above on toxicity. Immature flowers - cooked and used like cauliflower[183]. One report says that the plant contains 0.7% rutin[240]. It does not specify which part of the plant, though it is likely to be the leaves[K].
|
|
|
|
|
Medicinal Uses
|
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anticholesterolemic; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Antitumor; Aperient; Astringent; Cholagogue; Demulcent; Diuretic; Homeopathy; Laxative;
Purgative; Stomachic; Tonic.
The roots of many members of this genus are used medicinally. Whilst R. palmatum is the main species used in China, we have a report that this species (which has probably been derived from it through cultivation) is used in Korea[279]. The uses of R. palmatum are as follows:- Chinese rhubarb, called Da Huang in China, has a long and proven history of herbal usage, its main effect being a positive and balancing effect upon the whole digestive system. It is one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine[238]. It has a safe and gentle action, safe even for children to use[254]. The plant is also part of a North American formula called essiac which is a popular treatment for cancer. Its effectiveness has never been reliably proven or disproven since controlled studies have not been carried out. The other herbs included in the formula are Arctium lappa, Ulmus rubra and Rumex acetosella[254]. The root is anticholesterolemic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitumor, aperient, astringent, cholagogue, demulcent, diuretic, laxative, purgative, stomachic and tonic[4, 7, 9, 21, 91, 171, 176, 238]. The roots contain anthraquinones, which have a purgative effect, and also tannins and bitters, which have an opposite astringent effect[244]. When taken in small doses, it acts as an astringent tonic to the digestive system, whilst larger doses act as a mild laxative[232, 244]. The root is taken internally in the treatment of chronic constipation, diarrhoea, liver and gall bladder complaints, haemorrhoids, menstrual problems and skin eruptions due to an accumulation of toxins[238]. This remedy is not prescribed for pregnant or lactating women, nor for patients with intestinal obstruction[238]. Externally, the root is used in the treatment of burns[238]. The roots are harvested in October from plants that are at least six years old, they are then dried for later use[4]. A homeopathic remedy is prepared from the dried root[232]. This is used especially in the treatment of diarrhoea in teething children[232].
|
|
|
Other Uses
|
Insecticide.
The leaves can be simmered in hot water to make an insecticide.
|
|
|
Cultivation details
|
|
|
A very easily grown plant, tolerant of considerable neglect, it prefers a deep, fertile, moderately heavy, humus rich, moisture retentive, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade[200, 264]. It succeeds in most soils provided the drainage is good[200] and will grow in the dappled shade of trees so long as there is sufficient side light[K]. It grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates acid conditions but prefers a pH in the range 6.5 to 7[200]. Plants are very cold hardy, tolerating temperatures down to at least -20°c[200]. The plant does not like hot summers, however, and is likely to die in warmer climates[264]. Rhubarb is a long-lived and almost indestructible perennial plant[264]. It is often cultivated for its edible leaf stems, there are many named varieties[74, 183]. Most cultivars produce edible stems from spring to early summer, though 'Glaskin's Perpetual' can be harvested throughout the summer. By digging up the roots in the autumn and exposing them to frost, earlier growth will be initiated. These roots can then be transferred to a cold frame or other protected area where they will produce their edible stems in late winter. It is also possible to produce earlier crops outdoors by covering the plants with a layer of straw and an upturned bucket. This species is probably of hybrid origin, R. rhaponticum x R. palmatum[200]. It hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[200]. Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233].
|
|
|
|
|
|
Propagation
|
|
|
Seed - best sown in autumn in a shaded cold frame[200]. The seed can also be sown in spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in the spring. This species is a hybrid and will not necessarily breed true to type from seed. However, this does give the opportunity to look for superior plants from amongst the seedlings. Division in early spring or autumn[1, 111]. Divide up the rootstock with a sharp spade or knife, making sure that there is at least one growth bud on each division. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
|
 You can download this page as a PDF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Botanical References
|
|
|
74200
|
|
|
|
|
|
Links / References
|
|
|
[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
|
[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
|
|
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
|
|
|
[2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
|
|
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
|
|
|
[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
|
|
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
|
|
|
[7]Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
|
|
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
|
|
|
[9]Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants.
|
|
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
|
|
|
[21]Lust. J. The Herb Book.
|
|
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
|
|
|
[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
|
|
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
|
|
|
[74]Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR.
|
|
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.
|
|
|
[91]Zhang Jingwei. Alpine Plants of China.
|
|
A lovely book with nice pictures. Gives habitats and some details of plant uses.
|
|
|
[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
|
|
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
|
|
|
[111]Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials.
|
|
A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
|
|
|
[171]Hill. A. F. Economic Botany.
|
|
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some a bit of detail about the plants it does cover.
|
|
|
[176]Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas.
|
|
An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.
|
|
|
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
|
|
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
|
|
|
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
|
|
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
|
|
|
[232]Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook.
|
|
A concise beginner's guide to the subject. Very readable.
|
|
|
[233]Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
|
|
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
|
|
|
[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
|
|
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
|
|
|
[240]Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
|
|
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
|
|
|
[244]Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs
|
|
Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant.
|
|
|
[254]Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
|
|
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
|
|
|
[264]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables
|
|
Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
|
|
|
[279] Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea
|
|
An excellent book with terse details about the medicinal uses of the plants with references to scientific trials. All plants are described, illustrated and brief details of habitats given.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
QR Code
|
|
|
|
What's this?
|
|
This is a QR code (short for Quick Response) which gives fast-track access to our website pages. QR Codes are barcodes that can be read by mobile phone (smartphone) cameras. This QR Code is unique to this page. All plant pages have their own unique code. For more information about QR Codes click here.
|
|
1. Copy and print the QR code to a plant label, poster, book, website, magazines, newspaper etc and even t-shirts.
|
|
2. Smartphone users scan the QR Code which automatically takes them to the webpage the QR Code came from.
|
|
3. Smartphone users quickly have information on a plant directly for the pfaf.org website on their phone.
|
|
|
|
Rate This Plant
|
|
|
Please rate this plants for how successful you have found it to be. You will need to be logged in to do this. Our intention is not to create a list of 'popular' plants but rather to highlight plants that may be rare and unusual and that have been found to be useful by website users. This hopefully will encourage more people to use plants that they possibly would not have considered before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Add a comment/link
|
|
|
If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at admin@pfaf.org. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.
* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.
|
Subject : Rheum x cultorum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|