swiss chard

[Jokerman]

Hi,


   Just a quick one.... probably me being thick... is rhubarb a form of swiss chard?

   The reason I ask is that in my seed catologue it shows a variety of swiss chard called red rhubarb, but says you can eat the leaves like spinach. I always thought that rhubarb leaves were poisonous?


Help!!!      ??? ??? ??? ??? ???

[Jokerman]

[spatiallyaware]

Different kind of animal, as far as I can see, Beta vulgaris vs Rheum rhabarbarum. According to food guru Harold McGee it's mainly the high oxalic acid content of the rhubarb leaves (as much as 1% of leaf weight) that renders them toxic...
The chard should be infinitely more palatable!
:)

[Eristic]

The only resemblance of the chard to rhubarb is the appearance. The variety mentioned would have red or pink stalks instead of white. All parts of the chard plant are edible but the root is far too tough for humans.

[saddad]

Welcome to the site "Spatially aware"  ;D

[Barnowl]

Isn't chard is related to beetroot?

[saddad]

Yes, Betroot, Chard and Perpetual Spinach (leef beet) are all Common Beet that have been selected for different bits... root, stalk and leaf. All three are edible in all three but not as good in the non-specific are...  ;D