From Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
3,295 bytes added
, 16:43, 13 December 2009
{{SPlantbox
|Min ht metric=cm
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Upload.png
|image_width=240
}}
{{Inc|
Rheum (Rha was the old Greek name for rhubarb). Polygonaceae. Rhubarb.
Perennial (sometimes mono- carpic) herbs grown for the large bold
foliage and often interesting inflorescence; and one for the edible
leafstalks.
Leaves mostly radical, large for the size of the plant, entire or
divided, on stout thick petioles: sts. mostlystrict and rising above
the heavy foliage, often tall, making plants of striking habit: fls.
perfect, small, greenish or whitish, pedicellate, in numerous panicled
fascicles or racemes, the infl. elevated on stout mostly hollow
scape-like sts., which are provided with sheathing stipules or ochreae
(Fig. 3374) ; perianth 6-parted and spreading; stamens 9 or 6; ovary
3-angled and bearing 3 styles, ripening into a winged or sometimes
nearly succulent achene.—Species about 25, Syria and Siberia to China,
through the Himalayan region.
Aside from the common rhubarb, Rheum Rhaponticum, which is grown for
the edible leaf-stalks, the species are little known in general
cultivation. Few plants are more useful, however, for bold and striking
foliage effects; and these effects are heightened by the towering
flower-panicles. Most of the species are hardy and easy to grow, but
they profit by a liberal winter mulch. Rheums are usually seen to best
advantage against a heavy background of foliage or of rock (Fig. 1817,
p. 1463). Even the common rhubarb is a useful ornamental subject when
well placed. In order to secure large and fine foliage, the soil should
be rich and moist. The species are propagated by dividing the
root-masses, preferably in spring, leaving as much root as possible
with each strong eye or bud.
The dried rhizomes of rhubarb are used medicinally. Several species
afford the officinal product. The larger part of the dried rhubarb
imported from the Orient is prob-ably made from the crown or short stem
(not the flower-stem) of R. Rhaponticum is some-times grown for its
medicinal roots.
}}
Describe the plant here...
==Cultivation==
<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
===Propagation===
<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
===Pests and diseases===
<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
==Species==
<!-- This section should be renamed Cultivars if it appears on a page for a species (rather than genus), or perhaps Varieties if there is a mix of cultivars, species, hybrids, etc -->
==Gallery==
{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery -->
<gallery>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>
==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
==External links==
*{{wplink}}
{{stub}}
__NOTOC__