Israeli Scientists from the University of Haifa, Professors Simcha Lev-Yadun, Gidi Ne’eman and Gadi Katzir investigated the desert rhubarb, Rheum Palaestinum, during a trip with students to the Negev. Unlike most desert plants, it has broad leaves with many grooves that channel rainwater straight to its roots. This rare desert plant “waters itself,” enabling it to receive 16 times the amount of rainwater that falls on it each year. Approximately 75 millimeters of rain fall on the rhubarb’s habitat yearly, hence the plant’s unique irrigation system provides it with 425 millimeters reaching its roots. Rain generally reaches about one centimeter into the ground, however the rhubarb’s irrigation system takes the water ten centimeters under the earth to the deepest part of its roots.
Leaf Grooves and notches on each leaf’s surface are a miniature imitation of the topography of the surrounding desert mountains and wadis, maximizing the amount of water flowing to the plant’s roots. In addition, they pointed out that the leaves have a wax covering which helps the water flow. [See photos below] No other desert plant in the world does this. The Israeli Scientists discoveries were published recently in the journal Naturwissenshcaften.

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