rhubarb

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• rhubarb

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rheum franzenbachii var. mongolicum
• Rheum sanguineum
• Rheum franzenbachii
• Rheum macropterum
• Rheum muricatum
• Rheum undulatum var. crispatum
• Rheum undulatum var. rotundifolium
• Rheum undulatum var. latifolium
• Rheum undulatum var. longifolium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales. Finally, its taxonomic lineage places it in the family Polygonaceae and the genus Rheum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range extending across several key regions of the Eurasian continent. In Middle Europe, its presence is notably documented throughout the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. Moving eastward, the species can be found within the vast landscapes of Central European Russia. Its distribution continues into East European Russia, further establishing its reach across the continent. Finally, the plant is found in the Siberian regions, specifically within Buryatiya and the area of Chita.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rheum rhabarbarum is characterized by its ability to colonize diverse landscapes, ranging from the shaded understories of a forest to the open, exposed environments of a steppe. It thrives in varied substrates, demonstrating a particular adaptability to sandy soils where drainage is efficient, as well as in more stable terrestrial settings. This distribution across distinct ecological zones—forest, sand, and steppe—highlights its capacity to endure different levels of light availability and moisture retention, allowing it to establish itself in both protected woodland niches and more arid, wind-swept open plains.

Habitat :

forest, sand, steppe

Life history

The life history of Rheum rhabarbarum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a species that survives unfavorable conditions through underground organs, its life form is classified as a geophte, which also places it within the broader category of crypto-phytes. This growth strategy ensures that the plant can re-emerge annually from its protected rhizomes or rootstock, facilitating long-term survival and continuous development within its habitat.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rheum rhobarbarum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it maintains an independent lifestyle rather than acting as a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant variation in size, with a stature that typically ranges from a minimum height of 1 m to a maximum height of 4 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1.4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

1.4 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rheum rhabarbarum is characterized by its efficient carbon fixation through a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and resource utilization. The plant exhibits significant vegetative development, particularly in its foliage, which is optimized for light interception. The leaves are substantial in size, featuring a consistent width of approximately 40 cm (with a minimum and maximum value also measured at 40 cm) and can reach a maximum length of up to 110 cm. This large surface area facilitates robust photosynthetic activity, supporting the plant's growth requirements within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

110 cm

Leaf width mean:

40 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rheum rhabarbarum involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms. Sexual reproduction is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in May and concludes in June. The resulting fruits have an average length of approximately 1 cm, and the seeds produced during this process have a mean mass of 0.0191 g. In addition to these sexual processes, the plant also possesses the capacity for asexual reproduction, which is present in its biological profile.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length mean:

1 cm

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed mass mean:

0.0191 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Rheum rhabarbarum has 118 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Rhein, emodin, Aloe emodin, Chrysophanol, Anthraquinones.

Rhein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Chemico-biological interactions
5. Kidney international

emodin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of chromatographic science
4. Electrophoresis
5. Zhonghua nei ke za zhi

Aloe emodin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of chromatographic science
3. Chemical research in toxicology
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
5. Nutrients

Chrysophanol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of chromatographic science
4. Electrophoresis
5. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Anthraquinones

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Carbohydrate polymers
4. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Physcion

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of chromatographic science
4. Electrophoresis

Rhapontigenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM
4. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung
3. MicrobiologyOpen

(-)-Epicatechin-3-O-gallate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nephron
3. Nihon Jinzo Gakkai shi

procyanidin B-2 3,3'-di-O-gallate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nephron
3. Nihon Jinzo Gakkai shi

Activities

Rheum rhabarbarum has 551 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cardioprotective, Estrogenic, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Nutrients

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrients

Estrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AGEs-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Rheum rhabarbarum has 32 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include chronic renal failure, constipation, inflammation, renal failure, Alzheimer's disease.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations