Are large veins in a rhubarb leaf safe to eat?
I've got a lovely rhubarb plant. Nice stalks, huge leaves. The biggest leaves have veins in them bigger than some of the smaller stalks. It seems a shame to throw them away— but obviously I am not keen on poisoning myself and my family.
Are these 'veins' part of the poisonous leaf, or the delicious, safe stem?
Best Answer
It's an old source (1922), but divides the rhubarb into "leaf stalks", "prominent veins," and "leaves." It states that the leaf stalks are the only edible portion.(1)
In addition, oxalates are in all parts of the plant. But only specifically stated to be in lower quantities in the stalk (2). In fact, people susceptible to kidney stones can be advised to avoid even rhubarb stalks (4). Cooking the leaves can actually INCREASE the toxicity. (3)
Logic would dictate that the veins, being the transition point from stalks to leaves would have a value in between the values in the stalks and leaves. Thus safety indicates one should avoid eating them.
Sources: 1: https://books.google.com/books?id=_GDXAAAAMAAJ&pg=PR3#v=onepage&q&f=false 2: http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/poison 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb 4: http://www.healwithfood.org/health-benefits/rhubarb-stalks.php
Pictures about "Are large veins in a rhubarb leaf safe to eat?"
What part of rhubarb can you not eat?
Rhubarb leaves are considered inedible due to their high concentration of oxalic acid. In fact, both the stalks and leaves contain oxalic acid, but the leaves have a much higher content. Oxalic acid is a natural substance found in many plants, including leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and cocoa ( 2 ).How can you tell if rhubarb is toxic?
The stalks of a rhubarb plant are safe to eat. You can even eat them raw\u2014but be warned, they're very tart! However, the large, smooth, heart-shaped leaves are toxic. \u201cRhubarb leaves are considered poisonous to humans and animals due to high concentrations of oxalic acid,\u201d says Dr.How much rhubarb leaf is toxic?
In general, however, rhubarb leaves don't pose much of a threat. Since a lethal dose of oxalic acid is somewhere between 15 and 30 grams, you'd have to eat several pounds of rhubarb leaves at a sitting to reach a toxic oxalic acid level, which is a lot more rhubarb leaves than most people care to consume.When can you not eat rhubarb?
\u201cOnce temperatures fall to a range of the lower to middle 20s, oxalic acid in the leaves will (move) to the rhubarb stalks that we harvest,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWhen consumed, oxalic acid can crystallize in the kidneys and cause permanent damage to the organs.\u201dWhy Are Rhubarb Leaves Poisionous?
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: MD ARIF, Petr Ganaj, Petr Ganaj, Ryutaro Tsukata