Alaskan rhubarb: Polygonum alaskanum

Other names: Wild rhubarb

This plant is found in western and Interior Alaskan and the north to central Yukon. The most common use for this plant is as a domestic rhubarb substitute. The members of the genus Polygonum, are considered edible and palatable. There are over a 150 members of this genus worldwide and we have about a dozen in this area.

Food Use: As the name implies, the plant is used like you would the domestic rhubarb. Like other Polygonum species, the rhizomes of this plant are edible and can be cooked as you would a potato. However, they are often not very large, so the best use is probably in stir-fries or as small French-fries. The seeds can be used as a substitute for poppy seeds. The leaves can be added to salads.