Rheum ribes

Linn.

Currant-fruited rhubarb, Rawash

PolygonaceaeLeavesRootsSeeds/NutsFlowersShootsSpice/BeveragePotential hazards — see below

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(c) Shahrzad Fattahi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Flowers, Seeds, Leaves, Leaf stalks, Root - drink, Stems

The leaf stem is eaten cooked, and is also consumed raw by local people.

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the leaves of some if not all members of this genus contain significant quantities of oxalic acid and should not be eaten in any quantity. Oxalic acid can lock up certain minerals in the body, especially calcium, leading to nutritional deficiency. The content of oxalic acid will be reduced if the plant is cooked. 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.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. In Pakistan it grows between 1,000-4,000 m altitude.

Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Europe, France, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Mediterranean, Middle East, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Türkiye,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Belarus, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Egypt, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Yemen

How to Identify

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are solid and warty. The leaf stalks are rough. The leaf blade is 30-50 cm long by 25-40 cm wide. They are heart shaped.

How to Grow

Prefers a deep, fertile, moderately heavy, humus rich, moisture retentive, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Best grown in a dry position, where it can be very long-lived. Hardy to about -20°c according to one report whilst another says that plants are somewhat tender in Britain. Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus.

Propagation: Seed is best sown in autumn in a shaded cold frame, though spring sowing in a cold frame is also possible. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame through their first winter, then plant out in spring. For division, work in early spring or autumn, splitting the rootstock with a sharp spade or knife and ensuring at least one growth bud per division. Larger divisions can go directly into their permanent positions; smaller ones are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established before planting out in late spring or early summer.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Rheum ribes, the Syrian rhubarb or currant-fruited rhubarb, or warty-leaved rhubarb, is an edible wild rhubarb species in the genus Rheum. It grows between 1000 and 4000 m on dunite rocks, among stones and slopes, and is now distributed in the temperate and subtropical regions of the world, chiefly in Western Asia (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia) to Afghanistan and Pakistan and also in ladakh(Kargil) region of India. The Syrian rhubarb is a partially commercial vegetable collected from wild patches in Eastern and Southern Anatolia, Kurdistan, and partly Northwestern Iran in early spring. Rheum ribes is considered as a valuable medicinal species in herbal medicine.

Other Information

They are sold at local markets.

Names & Synonyms

Isgin, Iskin, Kap, Revas, Rewas, Rewes, Ribes, Rives

References (19)

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