Practical
Plants

Rheum palmatum

Turkey Rhubarb

a perennial member of the Rheum genus in the family Polygonaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Rheum
Life cycle
perennial
Height
3 m
Spread
2 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are poisonous[12]. This report probably refers to high levels of oxalic acid found in the leaves. Perfectly safe in moderate quantities, oxalic acid can lock up certain minerals (especially calcium) in the body, leading to nutritional deficiency. Cooking the plant will reduce its content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[15].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaf stem - raw or cooked[8][22][2][6]. The stem is superior in flavour to the common rhubarb and quite tender[8]. An acid flavour, it is sometimes used as a cooked fruit substitute[K].

Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[15]. It has a safe and gentle action, safe even for children to use[17]. 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[17]. The root is anticholesterolemic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitumor, aperient, astringent, cholagogue, demulcent, diuretic, laxative, purgative, stomachic and tonic[19][22][23][12][24][4][5][15]. The roots contain anthraquinones, which have a purgative effect, and also tannins and bitters, which have an opposite astringent effect[16]. When taken in small doses, it acts as an astringent tonic to the digestive system, whilst larger doses act as a mild laxative[13][16]. 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[15]. This remedy is not prescribed for pregnant or lactating women, nor for patients with intestinal obstruction[15]. Externally, the root is used in the treatment of burns[15]. The roots are harvested in October from plants that are at least six years old, they are then dried for later use[19]. A homeopathic remedy is prepared from the dried root[13]. This is used especially in the treatment of diarrhoea in teething children[13].

Product or use
Anticholesterolemic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Antitumor
Product or use
Aperient
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An insect spray is made from the leaves[9]. This spray is also said to help prevent clubroot of brassicas[9]. The cultivar 'Atrosanguineum' can be used as a ground cover plant in a sunny position[7]. Other forms can also be used, they are best planted about 1.8 metres apart each way[11].

Product or use
Fungicide
Product or use
Insecticide

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
E. Asia - N.W. China in Yunnan, W. Sichuan, E. Xizang and Gansu.
Habitat
Scrub and rocky places and by streams, 2500 - 4000 metres. Slopes and valleys at elevations of 1500 - 4400 metres in western and northern China[18].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in autumn in a shaded cold frame[10]. 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. Division in early spring or autumn[1][3]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a deep, fertile, moderately heavy, humus rich, moisture retentive, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade[10]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[14]. Hardy to at least -15°c[10]. A very ornamental plant[1], there is at least one named variety[6]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[10]. The sub-species R. palmatum tanguticum is cultivated as a medicinal plant in China[21][16], it was at one time a popular purgative in Europe[20]. Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[14]. Turkish rhubarb is a good companion plant for columbine (Aquilegia spp)[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  4. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  5. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  7. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  9. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  12. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  13. Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  15. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  16. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  18. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  19. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  20. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  21. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  22. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

  23. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩

  24. Zhang Jingwei. Alpine Plants of China. Gordon & Breach. New York. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-677-60190-5

    ↩

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