RHUBARB. 117 



Rewbarbe." This author further adds, "The 

 best rubarbe is that which is brought out of 

 the countrie of Sina (commonly called Chi- 

 na). The second in goodness is that which 

 cometh from Barbaric The last and worst 

 from Bosphorus and Pontus." 



One species of rhubarb, Rhapontic, Rha- 

 pohticum, has been cultivated in England, 

 since 1573. Gerard says, this variety of 

 rhubarb " is called in Latine Rumex satiuus 

 (cultivated dock), and Patientia, or Patience, 

 which worde is borrowed of the French, who 

 call this herbe Pacience : after whom the 

 Dutchmen name this pot-herbe alsoPatientie; 

 of some RhabarbarumMonachorum, orMonkes 

 rhubarbe : bicause, as it should seeme, some 

 monke or other haue vsed the roote heereof 

 in steede of rubarbe." Gerard calls it the 

 Bastard rhubarb; and from his observations 

 we learn, that it was considered both as a pot- 

 herb and a medicinal plant. He says, " Being 

 sodden, it is not so pleasant as either beetes 

 or spinage, &c." Again, he states, " Monkes 

 rubarbe, or patience, is an excellent holsome 

 pot-herbe ; for being put into the pottage in 

 some reasonable quantitie, it doth loosen ; 

 helpeth the iaunders, the tympanic, and such 

 like diseases, proceeding of colde cause 



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