Various phenolic constituents were determined in stem, bark and root o
f mature Rumex hastatus, a herbaceous plant occurring widely in the Hi
malayas. For two samples from different localities, the values (dry we
ight basis) for total phenols, tannins (capable of binding hide powder
) and condensed tannins in the bark were about 14% (as tannic acid equ
ivalent), 13% (as tannic acid equivalent) and 10% (as catechin equival
ent) respectively. The values for the root were about 17%, 16% and 12%
. For the stem, the difference was large for the two samples; the valu
es were 8.8 and 14.8%, 7.8 and 13.6% and 6.6 and 10.2% respectively. T
he values for tannins which bind polyvinylpyrrolidone were lower by 7-
33% than values obtained with hide powder. The levels of total phenols
, tannins or condensed tannins were substantially lower for the young
plant and the dead fallen stem than those for the mature plant. The pl
ant appears to have a potential as a source of tannins for industrial
applications.