AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 299 
RHOPALA. A synonym of Roupala (which see). 
RHOPALOSTIGMA (of Schott). 
Staurostigma (which see). 
RHOPALOSTYLIS (from rhopalon, a club, and 
stulos, a pillar; alluding to the club-shaped spadix). 
ORD. Palme. <A small genus (two species) of green- 
house, unarmed palms, with mediocre, annulate trunks, 
natives of New Zealand and Norfolk Island. Flowers 
mediocre, spirally disposed; spathes two, complete, ob- 
long, complanate, the lower one two-winged; spadices 
short, spreading, on very short and thick peduncles, the 
branches somewhat flabellate, rather thick, and dense- 
flowered; bracts subulate at apex; bracteoles scale-like. 
Fruit small or rather large, ellipsoid, smooth. Leaves 
terminal, equally pinnatisect; segments equidistant, 
numerous, narrow-ensiform, acuminate, recurved, but not 
thickened at the margin and base; petioles very short; 
sheath elongated. For culture, see Areca. 
». 
Included under 
barat Sa 
a NaN 
Fic. 371. RHOPALOSTYLIS BAUER. 
R. Baueri (Bauer’s).* fl., spathes white, 8in. to 10in. long, din, 
to 4in. across, narrow-oblong, acuminate ; spadix axillary, “ but, 
owing to the falling away of the leaf as ‘soon as the spathe is 
ready to open and the flowers are fully formed, only flowering 
when infraaxillary, horizontally spreading from the caudex, lft. 
to 2ft. long, sparingly branched” (Hooker). Z. 6ft. to 9ft. long, 
pinnate, furfuraceous-scaly on the rachis, costa, and nerves ; pin- 
nules closely set, 2ft. long, 14in. broad, stiff, acuminate, rib 
and plaited. Trunk 20ft. high and 4in. in diameter. Norfolk 
Island. See Fig. 371. (B. M. 5735, under name of Areca Baueri.) 
R. sapida (savoury).* fi. pale pink, very numerous ; spadix much- 
—— y nee ea , 14ft. to 2ft. long, inclosed in a double, 
boat-shaped spathe. J. pinnate, 4ft, to 6ft. long ; pinnules very 
narrow, linear-lanceolate, with replicate margins ; nerves and 
costa, and — the petioles, covered with minute, lepidote 
scales. Trunk 20ft. high, 6in. to 8in. in diameter. SYNS. Areca 
sapida (B. M. 5139), and Kentia sapida (of gardens). 
RHOPALOSTYLIS (of Klotzsch). Now included 
under Dalechampia. 
SUACOPHILA. A synonym of Dianella. 
aA 
RHUBARB (Rheum). Rhubarb is a well-known, 
hardy perennial, cultivated in nearly every garden. Its- 
leaf-stalks are used, either in a blanched or natural 
state, in pies, tarts, &c.; they also form material for 
making an excellent preserve, and for Rhubarb wine. 
The latter is, however, considered a very unwholesome 
beverage, even injurious to many constitutions. 
CULTIVATION. Plants may readily be raised from 
seeds, which should be sown in spring, on a gentle hot- 
bed, the seedlings being afterwards transferred, when 
large enough, to the open ground. The method of 
increase generally practised, and one by which strong 
plants can be obtained in a much shorter time, is that 
of dividing up the roots, so that a crown is reserved 
for each piece. When a new plantation is in course of 
formation, it should be attended to as early as possible 
in spring. The ground should be previously deeply 
trenched and manured, and single-crown divisions, or 
seedlings, may be planted about 3ft. apart each way, 
the crowns being kept slightly above the surface. Rhu- 
barb succeeds best in a rich, rather light soil, and in 
a light, open situation; but it grows freely under fruit- 
trees, as instanced by the quantities obtained in spring 
from market gardens. None of the leaves or stalks 
should be pulled during the first season; this would 
unduly weaken the rootstock. The second year a fair 
supply will be obtainable, and a good crop the third. A 
Rhubarb plantation will last good for several years, if 
an annual top-dressing of manure be given during 
winter; but it is well to renew it after about four or — 
Fig. 372, STICKS OF RHUBARB, 
five seasons. Some full-grown “sticks” of Rhubarb are 
represented in Fig. 372. i 
Forcing. Forced Rhubarb is usually much esteemed 
during winter and early spring ; for market, it proves one 
of the most remunerative of crops. There are various 
methods adopted for procuring a supply, all of which 
are more or less successful. Where sufficient plants are 
at command, some may be lifted and placed in cellars, 
