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Rheum tibeticum

Tibetan Rhubarb

Family PolygonaceaeGenus Rheum

Three large puckered leaves, dark green above and flushed purple, spread on bare soil around a knot of crimson flower buds.
The whole plantSalicynaCC 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
Light purple-red, yellowish greenFlora of China
Native range
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet, West HimalayaGBIF 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; Flora of China — Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven and Hong Deyuan (eds.); GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

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 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 28 days.

100% germination in 28 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. tibeticum germ. 70(4/4 in 3-4 d) and 40(4/4 in 4th 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 4 days to germinate.

100% germination in 3–4 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. tibeticum germ. 70(4/4 in 3-4 d) and 40(4/4 in 4th 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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