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Rheum ribes

Syrian Rhubarb · Currant-fruited Rhubarb · Warty-leaved Rhubarb

Family PolygonaceaeGenus Rheum

A rosette of huge gray-green crinkled leaves with pink midribs, spread flat over white limestone rubble.
The whole plantZeynel CebeciCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
YellowishWikipedia
Native range
Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, Pakistan, Palestine and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • A wild rhubarb, collected and sold as a vegetable. In medieval Europe, herbalists reading Serapion took the plant he described to be a currant. Wikipedia: Rheum ribes

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 14 days.

100% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Rheum p. 204Public domain
Show the original text
Rheum (Polygonaceae). Germination was immediate at both 70 and 40. R. ribes germ. 70(2/4 in 4-6 d) and 40(4/4 in 2nd w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Rheum p. 204. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.

50% germination in 4–6 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Rheum p. 204Public domain
Show the original text
Rheum (Polygonaceae). Germination was immediate at both 70 and 40. R. ribes germ. 70(2/4 in 4-6 d) and 40(4/4 in 2nd w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Rheum p. 204. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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