AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



299 



RHOPALA. A synonym of Roupala (which see). 



RHOFALOSTIGMA (of Schott). Included under 

 Staurostigma (which see). 



RHOFALOSTTLIS (from rhopalon, & club, and 

 stulos, a pillar ; alluding to the club-shaped spadix). 

 ORD. PalmcB. 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. 



FIG. 371. KHOPALOSTYLIS BAUERI. 



B. Bauer i (Bauer's).* /., spathes white, Sin. to lOin. long, Sin. 

 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 candex. 1ft. 

 to 2ft. long, sparingly branched " (Hooker). /. 6ft. to 9ft. long, 

 pinnate, furfuraceous-scaly on the rachis, costa, and nerves ; pin- 

 nules closely set, 2ft. long, IJin. broad, stiff, acuminate, ribbed 

 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).* /. pale pink, very numerous ; spadix much- 

 branched, dense-flowered, lift, to 2ft. long, inclosed in a double, 

 boat-shaped spathe. I. pinnate, 4ft. to 6ft. long ; pinnules very 

 narrow, linear-lanceolate, with replicate margins ; nerves and 

 costa, and especially the petioles, covered with minute, lepidote 

 scales. Trunk 20ft. high, 6in. to Sin. in diameter. SYNS. Areca 

 mAKenti 



savida (B. M. 5139), ar 



tia sapida (of gardens). 



RHOPALOSTYLIS (of Klotzsch). Nov 

 under Dalechampia. 



RHUACOPHILA. A synonym of Dianella. 



included 



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 



Fro. 372. STICKS OF RHUBARB. 



five seasons. Some full-grown " sticks " of Rhubarb are 

 represented in Fig. 372. 



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 aud placed in cellars, 



