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Useful Temperate Plants

Rheum acuminatum

Hook.f. & Thomson

Polygonaceae

+ Synonyms

Rheum orientixizangense Y.K.Yang, J.K.Wu & Gasang.

Common Name: Padamchal

No Image.

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[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
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[
34
Title
The Oxford Book of Food Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1975
ISBN
-
Description
Good drawings of some of the more common food plants from around the world. Not much information though.
,
76
Title
Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man.
Publication
 
Author
Cooper. M. and Johnson. A.
Publisher
HMSO
Year
1984
ISBN
0112425291
Description
Concentrates mainly on the effects of poisonous plants to livestock.
,
293
Title
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
]. 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[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
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.
].

Botanical References

266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

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[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1977
Title
Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
Publication
 
Author
Ghimire S.K. et al
Publisher
WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Year
2008
ISBN
978-99946-837-9-6
Description
 
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.60 m
PollinatorsWind
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Rheum acuminatum is a moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating winter temperatures that can fall to about -20°c[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Rheum species generally prefer a deep, fertile, moderately heavy, humus rich, moisture retentive, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. They grow well along the woodland edge or amongst large shrubs[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. They succeed in heavy clay soils. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[
233
Title
Perennial Garden Plants
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
Year
1990
ISBN
0 460 86048 8
Description
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].
Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[
233
Title
Perennial Garden Plants
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
Year
1990
ISBN
0 460 86048 8
Description
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Petioles are chewed raw or used to make fresh pickle[
1977
Title
Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
Publication
 
Author
Ghimire S.K. et al
Publisher
WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Year
2008
ISBN
978-99946-837-9-6
Description
 
].

Medicinal

The rootstocks and petioles are used in the treatment of gastritis, stomachache due to cold, bile problem, and as a diuretic[
1977
Title
Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
Publication
 
Author
Ghimire S.K. et al
Publisher
WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Year
2008
ISBN
978-99946-837-9-6
Description
 
]. The plant can be substituted for Rheum australe[
1977
Title
Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
Publication
 
Author
Ghimire S.K. et al
Publisher
WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Year
2008
ISBN
978-99946-837-9-6
Description
 
]

The roots are astringent, blood purifier, diuretic and tonic, They are crushed, boiled and consumed as a treatment for gastritis, indigestion, menstruation problems etc[
1977
Title
Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
Publication
 
Author
Ghimire S.K. et al
Publisher
WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Year
2008
ISBN
978-99946-837-9-6
Description
 
,
2032
Title
Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants from The Humla district of western Nepal
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130 (2010) 485-504
Author
Rokaya M.; Münzbergová Z. & Timsina B.
Website
http://10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.036
Publisher
 
Year
2010
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. The plant is also used in the treatment of diarrhoea, constipation, colds, coughs and headaches[
2032
Title
Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants from The Humla district of western Nepal
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130 (2010) 485-504
Author
Rokaya M.; Münzbergová Z. & Timsina B.
Website
http://10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.036
Publisher
 
Year
2010
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
A herbal tea prepared from the rootstock is used to treat body pain[
1977
Title
Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
Publication
 
Author
Ghimire S.K. et al
Publisher
WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Year
2008
ISBN
978-99946-837-9-6
Description
 
].
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[
2032
Title
Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants from The Humla district of western Nepal
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130 (2010) 485-504
Author
Rokaya M.; Münzbergová Z. & Timsina B.
Website
http://10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.036
Publisher
 
Year
2010
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Other Uses

The rootstocks are used for colouring wool[
1977
Title
Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
Publication
 
Author
Ghimire S.K. et al
Publisher
WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Year
2008
ISBN
978-99946-837-9-6
Description
 
]. They are a good source of a yellow colour[
2032
Title
Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants from The Humla district of western Nepal
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130 (2010) 485-504
Author
Rokaya M.; Münzbergová Z. & Timsina B.
Website
http://10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.036
Publisher
 
Year
2010
ISBN
 
Description
 
]
The petioles are used as a mordant[
1977
Title
Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
Publication
 
Author
Ghimire S.K. et al
Publisher
WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Year
2008
ISBN
978-99946-837-9-6
Description
 
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Rheum+acuminatum>

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