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Rheum officinale
| Common name: |
Chinese Rhubarb |
Family: |
Polygonaceae |
| Author: |
Baill. |
Botanical references: |
200, 266 |
| Synonyms: |
|
| Known Hazards: |
Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the leaves of some if not all members of this genus contain significant quantities of oxalic acid and should not be eaten in any quantity. Oxalic acid can lock up certain minerals in the body, especially calcium, leading to nutritional deficiency. The content of oxalic acid will be reduced if the plant is cooked. 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[238]. |
| Range: |
E. Asia - Tibet. |
| Habitat: |
Hills and forest understories at elevations of 1200 - 4000 metres in western China[266]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
3 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 3 |
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Chiang Chun [E], Chinese Rhubarb [P], Cin Ravendi [E], Da Huang [E], Huang Liang [E], Kelembak [E], Medicinal Rhubarb [H], Medicinel Rhubarb [E], Ta Huang [E], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
officinale = sold as an herb;
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA
Plants Database |
|
Order: Polygonales. Buckwheat family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
China; Japan; Java; Malaya; Turkey
|
Physical Characteristics
Perennial growing to 2m by 1.5m . It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind.
We rate it 3/5 for edibility and
3/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires moist soil.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Woodland, Cultivated Beds, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Ground Cover.Edible Uses
Rutin; Stem.
Leaf stem - cooked or raw[177, 178]. Rather medicinal[105].
One report says that the plant contains 1.3% rutin[240]. It does not specify
which part of the plant, though it is likely to be the leaves[K].
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Anticholesterolemic; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Antitumor; Aperient; Astringent; Cholagogue; Diuretic; Stomachic; Tonic.
Rhubarb 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[218, 238].
The root is anticholesterolemic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitumor,
aperient, astringent, cholagogue, demulcent, diuretic, laxative, purgative,
stomachic and tonic[4, 147, 171, 176, 218, 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
Ground cover.
Plants can be grown for ground cover when spaced about 1.8 metres apart
each way[208].
Cultivation details
Prefers a deep, fertile, moderately heavy, humus rich, moisture
retentive, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade[200]. Grows well in heavy
clay soils. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut
annually in the autumn[233].
Hardy to about -20°c[200].
A very ornamental plant[1], it is closely related to R. australe[200].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200].
Cultivated as a medicinal plant in China[61].
Plants at the Cambridge Botanical Gardens in September 1993 were growing
well in the shade of a woodland garden, though they were not succeeding when
planted closely to the trees[K].
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.
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.
Suppliers
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
Web References
- Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [E] Ethnobotany Data
(common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [PHARM] Phytochemical Data
(common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [S] Illustration
from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for the family Polygonaceae.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[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 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
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. Collingridge 1926
A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
[147] ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.
[171] Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952
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. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985
A very good Chinese herbal.
[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
[178] Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[208] Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.
[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
[232] Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990 ISBN 0-333-55581-3
A concise beginner's guide to the subject. Very readable.
[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
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. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
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). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
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 Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant.
[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.
Readers Comments
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Bibliography
Plant information taken from the
Plants For A Future -
Species Database.
Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963 This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Rheum+officinale
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