Abstract: The east southeast of Tibetan Plateau is the distribution center of Rheum palmatum.The species is found in scrubsand grassland from 2500 to 4400 meters above sea level and suitable to develop its populations in fertile and good -textured soils.For Rheum palmatum,P content in soil is largely lower than that in both leaves and rhizomes,and Fe content is soil>rhizomes>leaves.Amang them ,there is no significant difference between rhizomes and leaves but Fe content in soil is 50-110times higher than that of rhizomes and leaves.Contents of Na,Mn and Cu are soil>leaves>rhizomes,and Ca content is soil

Key words: Rheum palmatum, Distribution center, Element content, Net photosynthesis rate