RHAHNUa 



11HEUM. 



i are inserted into the tube of tho calyx, and a superior or half 

 fruit which is either dry or fleshy. The species are found 

 nearly all over the world, except in the arctic cone. The chief number 

 of species is said to be dispersed through the hottest parts of the 

 United State*, south of Europe, north of Africa, Cape of Good Hope, 

 and Australia. They are all shrubs, with small greenish or inconspi- 

 oooos flowers. 



The species which are best known in this country are the RMamniit 

 fmguia. Alder; R. calkarticui. Buckthorn; Faliurtu Auttralit, 

 Christ's Thorn; and Buckthorn, the evergeeen R/iamnut Alaternu*. 

 The useful species are of some importance : R, catharticm and 

 several others have purgative berries ; R. infrctoriiu yields the 

 French berries of the shops employed for dyeing yellow; the fruit of 

 the Jujube, Zitypkut Jujube and Z. vulgari$, is sub-acid and eatable, 

 and the species are cultivated for it in the south of Europe and the 

 temperate parts of Asia ; Z. Lot HI gave its name to the Lotophagi, or 

 Lote- Eaters, of Africa ; and Rhamnui frmgula is extensively cultivated 

 for the manufacture of charcoal. Ceaaolhui A mericantu yields the Hew 

 Jersey Tea. [CiAKOTHCs; HOVIXIA; PAUURUS; RUAUXUH.] 



Itli AMNUS (the word is Greek, 'Pduw), a widely diffused genus of 

 Plants, the type of the natural family Rkamnatttx. It in chiefly found 

 in the temperate parts of Europe, iu Siberia, and in the Himalayas at 

 elevations of 6500 feet ; also in the New World, and at the Cape of 

 Good Hope. 



The genus is characterised by having an urceolato 4-5-cleft calyx ; 

 petals wanting, or emarginate; anthers ovate, 2-celled; disc thin, 

 overspreading the tube of the calyx ; ovary superior, 3-4-celled; styles 

 S or 4, distinct or united ; fruit fleshy, with 3 or 4, or in consequence 

 of abortion, 2 fibrous indehiscent stones. 



R. eaUkarlietu (called also Spina cervina, hence Buckthorn), an 

 indigenous shrub, with opposite branches, spreading, straight, round, 

 smooth, hard, and rigid, each terminating in a strong spine after 

 the first year. Leaves deciduous, bright green, smooth, ribbed, 

 the young ones downy. Flowers yellowish green, on the last year's 

 branches numerous; the fertile ones with narrow petals, rudi- 

 ments of stamen*, and a deeply 4-clcft style; barren ones with 

 an abortive ovary, and broader petals. It flowers in Msy, ripening 

 its berries in September, at which time they ore collected. The 

 berries are about the size of a peppercorn, black externally, but within 

 of a deep violet, the pulp inclosing three or four seeds. The taste is 

 nauseous and repuUive at last, though at first sweetish and only bitter. 

 They contain a peculiar extractive, a colouring principle, acetic acid, 

 and gum. The fresh and dried berries, the expressed juice, or a syrup 

 prepared from them, all possess purgative properties, exemplified in 

 that form which has led to the designation ' hydragogue.' Its action 

 is attended with much sickness, griping, and thirst It should be 

 restricted to the arts, in which it U serviceable, being the source of the 

 pigment called Sap-Green or Bladder-Green. [BUCKTHORN, in ARTS 

 AHD Sc. I)i v.] 



K. frmgula. Alder Buckthorn, has alternate branches and elliptical 

 acuminate leave*. It is a native of the British Islands. 



R. imfectoriui is a dwarf shrub found in wild places in the south of 

 Europe among rocks. The fruit is purgative, and contains also a 

 colouring principle, for which it is sold under the name of French 

 Berries. R. Kuatilii, R. amyyilalintu, and R. oleoida have similar 

 properties. 



Itll.K n/.ITK. a Mineral, a form of A>ni<<>. [KTANITE.] 



l:ll\Ml'HASTin.K. [RAMniATiu.r.] 



HIIATANY. [KKAMKRIA.] 



KIIKA. [STRi-Tiiioxin.e.1 



KHEK BOC. [CERVID.R.] 



RHENITE, a Mineral, a Hydrous Phosphate of Copper. It occurs 

 crystallised and massive. Its primary form is on oblique rhombic 

 prism. Cleavage indistinct, parallel to the horizontal diagonal. Colour 

 ' "i green, and green of various shades ; streak light green. Its 



blackish gr. 



fracture is uneven. Hardness 5-0. 

 opaque. Specific gravity 4-2 to 4'3. 

 near Bonn, on the Rhine. 

 lt> analysis by Lunn gi 



Phosphoric Acid 



Oxide of Copper 



Water . 



Lu>tre vitreous. Translucent, 

 It is found at Kheinbreitbach, 



81-687 



, 62847 



15-454 



99-988 



KHK8US MONKEY. [MArACiw.1 



KHKI.'M, a genus of I'UnU belonging to the natural order Polyyona 

 C*a, of whirli tli- name U taken from the 'PMC of Dioscorides, and which 

 Includes the different species of plant* which yield the stalks and root 

 so well known by the name of Rhubarb. It is doubted by some 

 whether the root to which the name ' rim' and ' rheon ' was applied 

 by the Greeks was the same as that to which we now apply the name 

 of rhubarb, because the descriptions of the former given by Dioscorides 

 and I'liny do not apply to the latter. It U admitted however that our 

 rhubarb was known to the later Greek physicians, as Alexander ol 

 Trallee and Paulni of .Kirino, and there in no doubt that tlie Aral 

 wars well acquainted with it ; and it in remarkable that they quote 

 ' rhron ' as the Greek synonyme of their ' rawunrl,' which is rhubarb, 

 and which they describe as being of varioiu kind, as Indian, Turkish, 

 Chine**, and from Khorasean. From this it is probable that one kind 



may have become substituted for another as tho communication with 

 the east increased. 



Long as the Rhubarb root has been known, it is remarkable that 

 the species of Rheum yielding it is yet unknown ; this is in conse- 

 quence of the best rhubarb, Turkey rtiuborb, being only obtained by 

 ;hc Russians at Kiachta from the Chinese. That called Chinese may 

 je the produce of the same, or of a different species, from the northern 

 boundaries of that country. Dr. Royle, after reviewing the different 

 accounts of the commerce of rhubarb, states : " This would bring 

 ;lie rhubarb country within 95 of E. long., in 35 of N. lat, that is, 

 nto the heart of Tibet As no naturalist has visited this part, and 

 neither seeds nor plants have been obtained thence, it in as yet 

 unknown what species yields this rhubarb." Siever* had previously 

 said that his travels had satisfied him that as yet nobody, that is, no 

 scientific person, has seen the true rhubarb plant. The Himalayan 

 and Persian rhubarbs have alone been ascertained. 



The different species of rhubarb are important plants, not only on 

 account of the roots being so extensively employed, and so valuable 

 Tor their medicinal qualities, but also on account of the stalks of the 

 leaves being now so much employed, from their agreeable acidity, in 

 making tarts, &c. As the species are nil indigenous in cold parti of 

 the world, that is, from the southern parts of Russia, Siberia, Tibet, 

 tho north of China, and the Himalayan, so they may all be grown iu 

 the open air of this country, and several are cultivated on account of 

 their stalks. Some also, both in England and France, are cultivated 

 on account of their roots, often for the purpose of adulteration. 



The genus Rheum U characterised by having an inferior petaloid sex- 

 partite calyx, into the bottom of which the stamens, about nine in 

 number, are inserted; anthers opening lengthwise; ovary superior, 

 with a single erect ovule; styles three, reflexed; stigmas peltate, 

 entire ; fruit (achenium) 3-coTnered, winged, with the withered calyx 

 at the base. 



The species which arc known and cultivated are the following : 



R. Emotli, Wallich, R. auttrale of Don, is found in Kumaon. The 

 root is a valuable medicine, though bearing hardly any resemblance 

 to that of the shops. Stems much branched, six to ten feet high, 

 very thick below, gradually diminishing, and spreading into large 

 panicles, and there rough, with minute warts. Leaves very large, 

 cordate, acute, dull-green, but little wavy, very rough, covered with 

 little hair*. Petioles very rough, furrowed, and very much narrower 

 at the upper than the lower end. Panicles terminal, very long. 

 Flowers blood-red, very small. 



R. Wtbbianum, Royle, ' Illust,' t 99 ; R. Eauxii of Meisner, found 

 by Mr. Moorcroft at the height of 12,000 feet above the level of the 

 sea, and by Dr. Royle on the Choor Mountain. Root-leaves large, 

 long-stalked, rather downy above, veiny beneath, margin hairy. 

 Axillary racemes clustered, terminal, panicled; pedicels in threes, 

 twice as short as tho ripe fruit. 



R. tpiciforme, Royle, ' Illust,' t.78, found on tho northern face of 

 the Himalayas. leaves thick, leathery, cordate, blunt, red and netted 

 beneath, and covered with stellate down on each side. Pedicels 

 numerous, clustered, as long as the ripe fruit. The roots are lighter 

 coloured and more compact than those of R. Emodi. 



R. Moorcrvftianum (Royle), Small-Stalked Rhubarb. Leaves and 

 stems covered with short pubescence ; petioles deeply furrowed ; the 

 stipules an long as the petioles, and very membranous ; scales at the 

 base yet longer, extremely thin, and towards the summits much torn. 

 This species was found by Messrs. Moorcroft and Hearsay near the 

 Niti Pass iu the Himalayas, at an elevation of 12,000 feet 



R. leucorhizum, I'M. (R. nanum, Sievers; R. lalaritum, Linn.). A 

 small plant for the genus; the root is white and branched, though 

 said to bn equally efficacious with the best sorts. Radicle leaves 

 about three, short stalked, from four to six inches long, and from 

 five to nine inches broad ; smooth on both sides, toothletted at the 

 edge. Flowering stem about two inches high when in flower, after- 

 wards becoming ten to twelve inches high. 



R. rlmpnniicum. Linn. ; north of the Caspian. According to Gui- 

 bour, cultivated largely near I/orient, in the department of Morbiban 

 in France, at a place called from that circumstance Rheumpole. 

 Leaves roundish, ovate, cordate, obtuse, but little wavy, very con- 

 cave, even, very slightly downy on the under side. Panicles very 

 compact and short, always rounded at the ends, and never lax. R. 

 rhajuintirum, R. hybridttm, R. compaction, and hybrid varieties of 

 them, are the common garden rhubarbs. 



R. uniiulatum. Linn. (K. rkubarbarum. Linn.) ; China and Siberia. 

 Leaves oval, obtuse, deep-green, with veins purple at the base, often 

 shorter than tho petiole, downy on each side when young, looking as 

 if froited. Petiole downy, blood-roil, semi-cylindrical. 



R. Catpicum, Fischer (R. rhaponticnm, Ledbour) ; In the Altai 

 Mountains. Leaves ovate, acuminate, obtuse, cordate, indexed at tho 

 base, thick, very wavy, glossy on the upper but slightly downy on 

 the under side. Petiole pale green, minutely downy. 



R. compact tun, Linn. ; Tartary and China. Leaves heart-shaped, 

 obtuse, very wavy, deep-green, thick, quite smooth on both sides, 

 glossy on the upper. Sinus nearly closed with parenchyma. Petiole 

 green. 



li. crajuirernium, Fischer. Leaves heart-shaped, acuminate, obtusp, 

 wavy, bullate, deep-green, quite smooth, rather glossy above; rib* 



