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Rheum nobile


Rheum nobile
Photo Information
Copyright: Subhash Ranjan (sranjan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 443 W: 57 N: 1380] (4012)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-19
Categories: Mountain
Camera: Nikon D-200
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-11 5:06
Viewed: 291
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I clicked this unique high alpine plant at Bumla, Indo-Chinese Intl border (Altitude 15,000 feet above sea level).

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rheum
Species: R. nobile


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Rheum nobile, the Noble rhubarb or Sikkim rhubarb, is a giant herbaceous plant native to the Himalaya, from northeastern Afghanistan, east through northern Pakistan and India, Nepal, Sikkim (in India), Bhutan, and Tibet to Myanmar, occurring in the alpine zone at 4000-4800 meters altitude.

It is an extraordinary species of rhubarb (genus Rheum). At 1-2 m tall, R. nobile towers above all the shrubs and low herbs in its habitat, and it is visible across valleys a mile away.

R. nobile is often called a glasshouse plant because of its outer curtain of translucent bracts which pass visible light, creating a greenhouse effect, while blocking ultraviolet radiation. These are important defenses against the increased UV-B exposure and extreme cold in its high altitude range.

A description of R. nobile was first published by Joseph Dalton Hooker and Thomas Thomson in 1855. Hooker wrote:

"The present is certainly the most striking of the many fine alpine plants of Sikkim; and though in every botanical character, as also in the acid juice of the stem, a genuine Rhubarb, it differs so remarkably in habit and general appearance from any of its congeners, that at first sight it could not be recognized as one of them. I first saw it from a distance of fully a mile, dotting the black cliffs of the Lachen valley at 14,000 feet [4,200 m] elevation, in inaccessible situations, and was quite at a loss to conceive what it could be; not was it till I had turned back the curious bracteal leaves and examined the flowers that I was persuaded of its being a true Rhubarb."

Source: Wikipedia
anel, peter_stoeckl, CeltickRanger, goldyrs, mamabear, valy67, Solrac has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Subhash
What a wonderful plant1
Great form, colors and texture!
Congratulation!
Mariana

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1723 W: 0 N: 3903] (15686)
  • [2009-10-11 5:37]

Hello Subhash,
What an amazing plant this giant Rhubarb.Must be something special to see them grwing on the rocks. I just wonder if peolple eat them.
Excellent and interesting contribution to TN.
Thanks and kind regards
Anne

Hi Subhash,
eye-catching and well describing presentation of a remarkable mountain species of rhubarb that I have never heard of. Information of high educational value coming with your notes, well explaining the quite unexpected meaning of the term "glasshouse plant".
Thank you for this valuable contribution that certainly is showing a species for the first time here on TN.
With friendly regards,
Peter

hello Subhash

like a Nature Morte style, beautiful photo plant of mountains,
shot with fine POV and appropriate framing,
fine focus excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Wow!
I've yet to come across something like this!
Superb capture, Ranjan!
Goldy

great plant, TFS Ori

Hi Subnash,
I must confess I never saw something like that. Nice plant, wonderful composition.
Congratulation!

Alina

Hello Subhash !
I didn't know this plant, in fact I had never seen anything similar before - quite amazing shape and color ! We can see nice details, and I also like the very natual colors. As for the composition, maybe you could have left somemore space at the top of the plant, but this is just my personal opinion, the picture is great as it is. Nice to see the natural environment (moss and stones) in the BG. Very well done !
Valérie.

Original planta y excelente imagen y texto
buen trabajo
un saludo

Hi, very interesting and unusual species. What is that yellow -- leaves?

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