Was it rhubarb or burdock?

[wildherbalian85]

I think whilst out in the countryside recently i might have stumbled on some wild rhubarb. It was growing abundently along a bank which seperated a small stream and the road.

The leafs of the plant reached quite some hight - several feet - and where huge too. One leaf was at its broadest part around 3ft and around 2 foot in lenght with a long stem that was red at the base. I saw plenty of large leafs and some where bigger then the one i inspected.

I didn't get any pictures sorry.

[Dorts]

Sounds like Gunnera manicata, or Giant Rhubarb.
A plant for the large garden, it comes from South America and is not related to our Rhubarb at all.
Dorts.

[fog]

The leaves you were looking at were probably Butterbur.

[wildherbalian85]

Looking at pictures of Giant Rhubarb plants on google i'm fairly sure this is not what i stumbled across, but Butterbur im not so sure about... it might have been this.
I didn't see any flowers attached to any of the plants and if its of any more help the stems of the leafs where smooth.

[Dorts]

Try Water Dock - Rumex hydrolapathum. Leaves up to 3ft x 1ft. Always grows by water.
Dorts.

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Try Water Dock - Rumex hydrolapathum. Leaves up to 3ft x 1ft. Always grows by water.
Dorts.

Leafs are to pointy, the plants i saw where more spade shaped if that makes sense

[Dorts]

I think it's going to require a photo, is that possible?
Dorts.

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Dorts

I think it's going to require a photo, is that possible?
Dorts.

Sorry, not any time soon. I hope to cycle that route again at some point over the summer so i will photo it then hopefully.

[tcvarlh]

Try this perhaps : Colocasia Burgundy Stem
Monster Elephant's Ear Plant
Or :
Alocasia macrorrhiza Giant Taro
h

[King Edward]

Butterbur sounds like a good possibility. It tends to grow into big patches, and a streamside bank sounds like fairly typical habitat. The leaf shape's quite different to burdock though.