Species name :

Rheum × hybridumMurray
Published in Novi Comment. Soc. Regiae Sci. Gott. 5: 50 (1774 publ. 1775)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

No Main Synonyms

Plant Family :

Polygonaceae Juss. (The Dock Family)
24 species from the Polygonaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Rhubarb, Garden Rhubarb

Maltese name(s) :

Rabarbu

Status for Malta :

Casual or accidental alien. Species that was introduced in Malta rather recently and normally it is short-lived or resticted to small populations for a short time, without becoming widespread or invasive.

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent     Scarce     Rare    Very rare     Extinct

Growth form :

Germination type [info]: Dicotyledon
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: Hemicryptophyte ( perennial herbaceous plants with vegetative buds close to the ground )

Legal Protection :

Not legally protected till the last update of this website (22/Aug/2025)

Red List (1989) :

Not listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands

Flowering Time :

April – May

Colour of Flowers:

Green, Inconspicuous or Cream

Toxicity:

Mildy toxic, can cause adverse conditions if consumed in large quantities

Name Derivation :

Rheum: ()

hybridum: related or originating from a hybrid, hence a species from two genetically-mixed parents. (Latin origin)

Planting in rural areas :

Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines

Remarks :

The Rhubarb, is sometimes confused and reported erronously as Rheum rhabarbum, a species that was cultivated for its medicinal proprties of its root. It is one of the parents involved in the develoment of the hybridigenous culinary Rhubarb.