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Article XLV. 



On the different Specie* of Rhubarb. 



Sir, 



I Did not know that the Rheum Rhaponticum was 

 now judged by any to be the officinal rhubarb. 

 The famous Naturalift and Siberian Traveller, 

 M. Pallas, feems to have determined the Ruffia 

 rhubarb to be the Rheum Palmatum; and that the 

 jChincfe rhubarb is the fpecies which Linn*us once 

 thought to be the true rhubarb, and defcribed as 

 fuch in the Amanitates Academic*, under the name 

 of Undulatimi. 



I have difficulty to believe that Monf. Pallas's 

 intelligence on this fubject is not to be de- 

 pended on; though indeed, it is not ftrange, that 

 two or more fpecies of the fame genus fhould 

 produce roots but little different in their powers; 

 which is the cafe in the inftance before us of the 

 Palmatum and Undulatum, if one may depend on 

 letters and authors. And I have been informed, 

 Chat thefc two fpecies, planted near each other, 

 will produce a mongrel plant, the feeds of which 

 are not fertile j and I fhould not be furprizcd to 

 hear that the root of this hybrid excelled that of 

 its parent plants. 



BfiRGIUS, 



