 The inflorescence enlarges greatly when in fruit.According to the 2003 key in the "Flora of China", this species is distinguished from other entire-leaved rhubarbs in China with leaves having a wavy or crisped margin; "R. wittrockii", "R. rhabarbarum", "R. webbianum" and "R. hotaoense", by having less than 1cm-sized fruit, purple-red flowers, and the surface of the rachis of panicle being densely pubescent.It is the only rhubarb in this group to have purple-red flowers as opposed to various shades of white.