What kind of plant has a leaf just like a rhubarb leaf, but lighter in color, and the stalk is much thinner ?

My friend picked out a leaf outside our home and stated that it was a rhubarb plant. These plants are look alikes that have a much narrower stalk. He believed that if the plant was taken care of that the stalk would've grown to the regular width. I know it isn't the rhubarb plant, but I don't know what kind of plant to tell him it actually is. The main leaf, like a rhubarb leaf is big and venous looking, but not as dark as the rhubard, but a medium to light green. The stalk of the plant is a quarter of an inch thick with slight redness near the base of the 8 - 12 inch stalk. It is so unlike rhubarb to me, but he's convinced that it's an uncultivated rhubarb and that is why the stalk is so narrow. Does anyone have a clue what it is called? We are in Alaska, and the plant is growing near a grassy area. There were three growing about 5 - 9 feet away from our rhubarb.

What kind of plant has a leaf just like a rhubarb leaf, but lighter in color, and the stalk is much thinner ?
It sounds like it could be a member of the chard family.





Check it out here and see if what you have is anything close:





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chard





I wouldn't eat it, though, until checking it out with the USDA Extension Service -- check here for a branch near you (likely the Canadian ones):





http://www.oneglobe.com/agriculture/extn...





Ask them what grows in the area that might resemble what you have.
Reply:It could be a member of the celeraic family - a wild celery -they like the marshy/sandy conditions that a rhubarb thrives in - the leaves are similar in shape .the plant stalks can be a bit wiry , but have that distinct smell when the leaves are crushed. Report It

Reply:Swiss chard - also beet tops look like that.


Maybe you got a hybrid going.
Reply:this is a sticker bush ( grows a stalk) and produces the round sticker (like a thistle) It's a weed.