490 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



Rhazya stricta Decne. Apocyttaceae. 



A shrubby plant of western Asia. Its leaves, which are very bitter, are collected 

 and sold in the bazaars in Scinde, the natives using them in the preparation of cool drinks 

 in hot weather.' 



Rheedia edulis Planch. & Triana. Guttiferae. 



Panama. The edible fruit is the size of a hazelnut.* 



R. lateriflora Linn, wild mammee. 



Tropical America. The fruit, from one to four inches long, yellow when ripe, has 

 a pleasant, acid taste.' 



R. madruno Planch. & Triana. 



New Granada. The fruits are eaten.* 



Rheum compactum Linn. Polygonaceae. pieplant, rhubarb. 



Tartary and China; first known in Europe in 1758. In the Bon Jardinier, 1882, 

 this is said to be the species principally grown in France as a vegetable, but Vilmorin ' 

 refers his varieties to Rheum hyhridum. 



R. emodi Wall, pieplant, red-veined pieplant, rhubarb. 



Himalayas. This species was introduced into Britain about 1828. It is said by 

 Loudon * to have an excellent flavor, somewhat resembling that of apples, and is excellent 

 for a late crop, and the Bon Jardinier, 1882, says the petioles are longer and more esteemed 

 than those of other species. On the contrary. Burr,' 1863, says the leaf-stalks, although 

 attaining an immense size, are unfit for use on account of their purgative properties, but 

 the plant is sometimes cultivated for its leaves, often a yard in diameter, which are useful 

 for covering baskets containing vegetables or fruit. The wild rhubarb about Kabul is 

 blanched for use as a vegetable and, under the name of rewash, is brought to the market. 

 Gravel is piled about the sprout as it breaks from the earth, and by continuing the process, 

 the plant is forced to grow to the height of 18 or 20 inches. Another process is to cover 

 the plant with an earthen jar, and the sprout then curls itself spirally within the jar and 

 becomes white, crisp and free from fiber. It is eaten in its raw state with either salt or 

 sugar and makes a favorite preserve.* 



R. hybridum Murr. pieplant, rhubarb. 



Mongolia. This is- the species to which our largest and finest varieties are usually 

 referred. Rhubarb was first noticed in England in 1773 or 1774' but it did not come into 



'Smith, A. Treas. Bot. 2:971. 1870. 



'Black, A. A. Treas. Bot. 2:971. 1870. 



Ibid. 



< Smith, A. Treas. Bot. 1:201. 1870. (Calophyllum madruno) 



' Vilmorin Lei Pfo. Potog. 538. 1883. (R. hybridum) 



Loudon, J. C. Hort. 688. i860. 



' Burr, P. Field, Card. Veg. 631. 1863. 



' Harlan U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt. 528. 1861. 



Martyn Miller's Card. Diet. 1807. 



