Himalayan rhubarb
Rheum webbianum
Family: Polygonaceae
What it is like
A stout succulent herb. It grows 0.3-2 m tall. The leaves come from the base. The leaf stalks are 30-45 cm long. The leaf blade is leathery and round to kidney shaped. They are 10-50 cm across. The flowers are pale yellow or dark red.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. They grow between 3000-4000 m altitude in Uttar Pradesh in India. In western China it grows between 3,500-3.600 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan
How it is used for food
The young shoots, flower spikes and leaves are cooked as a vegetable. The leaf stalks are eaten raw or cooked. They are used like rhubarb. They are also used in chutney.
Edible parts
Flower stalks, leaves, leaf stalks
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Archu, Cheeming, Chu-rtsa, Dolu, Lachu, Padamchal