Garden rhubarb
Rheum rhabarbarum L.
Rheum rhabarbarum, known as Garden rhubarb, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the Polygonaceae family. It is cultivated for its edible stalks (petioles), which are commonly used in cooking. The plant grows from short, thick rhizomes and features large, triangular leaves containing high levels of oxalic acid and anthrone glycosides, making them inedible. The flowers are small and arranged in large compound inflorescences that range in color from leafy greenish-white to rose-red.
Description
Rheum rhabarbarum is native to regions including Labrador, Newfoundland, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon, as well as parts of Europe and North America. The plant has been historically associated with various species under the name 'rhubarb.' While the leaves are toxic, the stalks are widely used in culinary applications. The species was first described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus.
Other common names
Garden rhubarbPie-PlantPieplantRhubarbWine-Plant
Distribution
Labrador · Newfoundland · Alberta · British Columbia · Manitoba · New Brunswick · Nova Scotia · Northwest Territories · Ontario · Quebec · Saskatchewan · Yukon · DK · FI · IS · SE · Belgium · Flemish Region · Vermont-US · CZ · CH · FK · NO · SK · CA · LT · Alaska · conterminous 48 United States · Buryatiya · China North-Central
Synonyms
Rheum undulalumRhabarbarum verumRheum undulatumRheum franzenbachiiRheum undulatum var. longifoliumRheum franzenbachii var. mongolicum