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Rheum australe
Himalayan rhubarb
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General Info
Medicinal |
Edible Uses |
Flowers & Foliage |
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Latin Name: Rheum australe
Synonyms: R. emodi. Wall.
Common Name: Himalayan rhubarb
Family: Polygonaceae(Click to Search)
Author: D.Don.
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].
Habitat: Open slopes to 4200 metres[51].
Mature Height: 3
Mature Width: 1.5
Habit: Perennial
Edible Uses: Leaf stem - raw or cooked[22, 105, 183]. An excellent flavour that is something like apples[2, 183] (this is likely to be a cooking apple!). The crop is sometimes blanched by excluding light from the growing stems, this produces an almost white stem that is free of fibre, crisp and less acid[2]. This species makes an excellent late crop[2]. The stems can also be made into a preserve or be dried and stored for later use[183].
One report says that the plant contains 0.32% rutin[240]. It does not specify which part of the plant, though it is likely to be the leaves[K].
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