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Rhubarb is a perennial plant that grows from thick, short rhizomes, comprising the genus Rheum. The large, somewhat triangular leaf blades are elevated on long, fleshy petioles. The flowers are small, greenish-white, and borne in large compound leafy inflorescences.
The plant is indigenous to Asia, but is now grown in many areas, primarily for its fleshy petioles, commonly known as rhubarb sticks. In temperate climate rhubarb is one of the first food plants to be ready for harvest, usually in April/May. The petioles can be cooked in a variety of ways. Stewed, they yield a tart sauce that can be eaten with sugar or used as filling for pies, tarts, and crumbles. This common use led to the GermanGerman (called Deutsch in German in which germanisch refers to prechristian times), is a member of the western group of Germanic languages and one of the world's major languages. It is the language with the most native speakers in the European Union. slang term for rhubarb, piestengel, or "pie plant." Rhubarb is also used to make wineCountry wine" is also a common translation of " vin du pays", or " Landwein Country wines are fermented alcoholic beverages made from a variety of ingredients other than grapes (the base of "ordinary" wine) and having a variety of flavors. Country wines a.
During the winter it disappears completely and begins to grow in early spring. It can be forced, that is, encouraged to grow early, by raising the local temperature. This is commonly done by placing an upturned bucket over the shoots as they come up.
The plant occurs in at least four species. Those most commonly used in cooking are the Garden Rhubarb (R. rhabarbarum) and R. rhaponticum, which though a true rhubarb bears the common name False Rhubarb.
The drug rheum is prepared from the rhizomes and rootFor other meanings of root, see Root (disambiguation). In vascular plants, roots form the portions of a plant which generally lie below the level of the soil (cf. stem, rhizome). But this is not always characteristic for a root, since a root can also be as of another species, R. officinale or Medicinal Rhubarb. This species is also native to Asia, as is the Chinese Rhubarb (R. palmatum).
Rhubarb is used as a strong cathartic and for its astringent effect on the mucous membraneThe mucous membranes (or mucosa are linings of ectodermic origin, covered in epithelium, that line various body cavities and internal organs. It is at several places continuous with skin: at the nostrils, the lips, the ears, the genitourinary area, and ths of the mouth and the nasal cavityThe nasal cavity is a large air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face. The nasal cavity is important in warming and cleaning the air as it is inhaled. The nasal cavity also contains organs involved in olfaction. The nasal cavity.
1 Toxic effects
Rhubarb leaves contain poisonThis article is about the dangerous substance. For the band see Poison. skull and crossbones symbol traditionally used to label a poisonous substance. In the context of biology, poisons are substances that cause injury, illness, or death to organisms, usuous substances. Rhubarb leaf poisoning is most often caused by oxalic acid, a corrosive and nephro toxic acid that is abundantly present in a lot of plants. The LD50 for rhubarb leaves appears to be about 375 mg/ kg body weight, or about 25 g of rhubarb leaves for a 65 kg human. The dose to cause sickness is, of course, much less.
The roots and stems are rich in anthraquinones, such as emodin and rhein. These substances are cathartic and laxative, which explains the sporadic abuse of Rhubarb as slimming agent. Anthraquinones are yellow or orange and may colour the urine.
