Common Name: Padamchal

General Information

Rheum acuminatum is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a slender, woody, rhizomatous rootstock; it produces a basal clump of leaves up to cm on stout petioles that are up to cm long; the plant flowers in the summer, producing flowering stems around 50 - 80cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials

Known Hazards

The plant, but especially the leaf blades, contains several toxic compounds, particularly anthraquinone glycosides, but also soluble oxalates and calcium oxylate crystals[, , ]. At lower doses these can cause abdominal cramps, burning of the mouth and throat, headache, weakness, nausea and vomiting. In larger, quantities it can lead to coma and death, though generally very large quantities need to be eaten for the plant to be fatal.
The leaf stems (petioles) have much lower quantities of toxins and, in several Rheum species are a commonly eaten food. The main caution here are the levels of oxalates. These can lock up certain minerals (especially calcium) in the body, leading to nutritional deficiency. Cooking the plant will reduce the concentration 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[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - northern Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, northern Myanmar, south central China

Habitat

Open slopes, forest edges, open forests, meadows; at elevations from 2,800 - 4,300 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Rheum acuminatum is a moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating winter temperatures that can fall to about -20°c[].
Rheum species generally prefer a deep, fertile, moderately heavy, humus rich, moisture retentive, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade[]. They grow well along the woodland edge or amongst large shrubs[]. They succeed in heavy clay soils. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[].
Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].

Edible Uses

Petioles are chewed raw or used to make fresh pickle[].

Medicinal

The rootstocks and petioles are used in the treatment of gastritis, stomachache due to cold, bile problem, and as a diuretic[]. The plant can be substituted for Rheum australe[]

The roots are astringent, blood purifier, diuretic and tonic, They are crushed, boiled and consumed as a treatment for gastritis, indigestion, menstruation problems etc[, ]. The plant is also used in the treatment of diarrhoea, constipation, colds, coughs and headaches[].
A herbal tea prepared from the rootstock is used to treat body pain[].
A paste made from the root is applied externally on fractured and broken bones[1977,2032]. The root pasts is mixed with water and applied to the skin to throw heat from the bodies of babies[].

Other Uses

The rootstocks are used for colouring wool[]. They are a good source of a yellow colour[]
The petioles are used as a mordant[].

Propagation

Seed -