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Useful Temperate Plants

Rheum maximowiczii

Losinsk.

Polygonaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Rheum maximowiczii is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a stout, woody, rhizomatous rootstock; it produces a basal clump of leaves up to 50cm long and 60cm wide on stout petioles that are up to 25cm long; the plant flowers in the summer, producing stout, branched flowering stems around 40 - 100cm tall[
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
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

74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

C. Asia - Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan and northeast Afghanistan

Habitat

Shallow soils and stony and rocky slopes, to the upper mountain belt[
2031
Title
Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Central Asia and Altai
Publication
 
Author
Batsatsashvili K., Kikvidze Z. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28947-8
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-030-28946-1
Description
 
].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Rheum maximowiczii 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 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

The petioles are cooked for jam and soups. Among Tajik people the petiole of rhubarb is popular as an edible vegetable. The petiole is used for making compote, jam, and wine[
2031
Title
Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Central Asia and Altai
Publication
 
Author
Batsatsashvili K., Kikvidze Z. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28947-8
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-030-28946-1
Description
 
].

The leaves are sometimes used as tea substitute, and to colour beer[
2031
Title
Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Central Asia and Altai
Publication
 
Author
Batsatsashvili K., Kikvidze Z. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28947-8
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-030-28946-1
Description
 
].

Medicinal

In Middle Asia the plant is used for the treatment of gastric ulcers.[
2031
Title
Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Central Asia and Altai
Publication
 
Author
Batsatsashvili K., Kikvidze Z. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28947-8
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-030-28946-1
Description
 
]

A decoction of the petiole is used to treat diarrhoea and is used as a tonic, antipyretic, and hypotensive to prevent anaemia and to detoxify. The petiole of this rhubarb is the main part that is used. It quenches the thirst and is useful to treat cardiac arrythmia, rubella, hepatitis, and fever[
2031
Title
Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Central Asia and Altai
Publication
 
Author
Batsatsashvili K., Kikvidze Z. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28947-8
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-030-28946-1
Description
 
].

The rootstock is used to treat flu and colds as well as inflammation of the airways[
2031
Title
Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Central Asia and Altai
Publication
 
Author
Batsatsashvili K., Kikvidze Z. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28947-8
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-030-28946-1
Description
 
].

Other Uses

The leaves and roots are rich in tannins. They are used to dye wool and silk in light yellow, pink, brown, and black colours[
2031
Title
Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Central Asia and Altai
Publication
 
Author
Batsatsashvili K., Kikvidze Z. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28947-8
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-030-28946-1
Description
 
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in autumn in a shaded cold frame[
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.
]. 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
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
111
Title
Popular Hardy Perennials.
Publication
 
Author
Sanders. T. W.
Publisher
Collingridge
Year
1926
ISBN
-
Description
A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
]. 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.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-03. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Rheum+maximowiczii>

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