lll. POLYGONACER. 353 
SurNGKrNG: Moukden to Laoling (Ross!). Herb. Kew. 
This specimen, although imperfect, is included because it looks 
so much like a prickly condition of P. barbatum, Linn., or one of 
that group. The inflorescence is quite like that of P. /apathi- 
folium, Linn., but all the flowers are galled. 
1. Rheum Emodi, Wall. ex Meisn.in Wall. Pl. As. Rar. iii. 
p. 65, et in DC. Prodr. xiv. p. 35, excl. syn.; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. 
Ind. v. p. 56; Franchet, Pl. David. p. 252; Bot. Mag. t. 3505. 
Curmi: Pohuashan (David ex Franchet). 
Himalayas at high altitudes in Sikkim and Nepal. 
Hance (Journ. Bot. 1875, p. 134) doubtingly refers David's 
plant to Rheum Rhaponticum, Linn. 
2. Rheum officinale, Baill. in Mém. de lAssoc. Franç. pour 
l Avancem. des Kc., Bordeaux, 1872, p. 514, t. 10, et Adansonia, 
x. p. 246; Journ. Bot. 1872, p. 379; Flück. et Hanb. Pharma- 
cogr. p. 442; Bentl. et Trim. Med. Pl. t. 213; Rev. Hort. 1874, 
p. 93, cum fig. xylogr. 13; Bot. Mag. t. 6135; A. Henry in Kew 
Bulletin, 1889, p. 226. 
Houpen: wild on the mountains bounding the Fang and Hsing- 
shan districts, at 7000 to 10,000 feet, and cultivated in the 
Patung district (A. Henry!) Mus. Brit. ; Herb. Kew. 
Tibet. 
Dr. Henry describes this as growing in a wild state, six feet 
or more in height, and he adds that the root is of a bright vellow, 
and in large specimens three or four feet long, and three or four 
inches in diameter at the thickest end. He further states “ that 
it is the source of the Rhubarb exported abroad, and it is said to 
be prepared by merely sun-drying—holes being made in the root 
with box-wood pins." 
Respecting the cultivated specimens from the Patung district, 
collected before he met with the plant in a wild state, Dr. Henry 
says :—“ Ta-huang, cultivated rhubarb, originally brought from 
Szechuen.” 
This is the only kind of Rhubarb we have seen from China 
Proper, and the specimens are excellent, so that there can be no 
doubt of their identity with Rheum officinale, Baill. Dr. Baillon, 
writing towards the end of last year, had seen no wild specimens. 
In the collection of living Rhubarbs at Kew is a plant from 
Mr. G. B. Corner, Honorary Secretary of the Publie Garden 
