Neglected & Underutilized Species

Read pages 9 to 19 Padulosi, Stefano; Thompson, Judith & Rudebjer, Per (2013): Fighting Poverty, Hunger and Malnutrition with Neglected and underutilized Species. Needs, challenges and the way forward. Diobiversity International. 

Example: Rhubarb

Rhubarb (Rheum x hybridum) is an neglected and underutilized plant in Finland. Rhubarb is thought to have originated in northern China and Mongolia, where it has been cultivated as a medicinal plant for 5000 years. The root of rhubarb has been used as a stomachic. It is now known that the rhubarb rhizome and leaves are rich in laxative anthraquinones and soluble oxalic acid and are not suitable for food. 

The cultivation of rhubarb is thought to have spread to Europe via Russia. The earlier species name for rhubarb, R. rhabarbarum, comes from the words Rha (Volga river) and barbarum (foreign). This Chinese stomach medicine came to Finland in the 1600s and it was cultivated as a medicinal plant since the 17th century. The use of rhubarb as a food crop became widespread in Europe in the 19th century. 

There has been carried out some research on rhubarb lately in Finland which shows that perhaps the most common variety of rhubarb in Finland is 'Queen Victoria'. Queen Victoria rhubarb was created by Joseph Myatt of Deptford, England. Rhubarb 'Queen Victoria' was named for the young Queen Victoria at her accession in 1837. You recognice it easy as it is the most well growing rhubarbe and often it start to flower making a lot of seeds as well.