414 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



duce a valuable dye, green or yellow, according to treatment. 

 Other species seem to supply a similar dye-material ; for instance, 

 B. saxatilis, L., B. amygdalinus, Desf., B. oleoides, L.. B. tinctori- 

 us, W. and K., all from the regions at and near the Mediterranean 

 Sea. 



Rhapidophyllum Hystrix. Wendland and Drude. (Chamwrops Hystrix, 

 Fraser.) 



The Blue Palmetto of Florida and Carolina. A hardy dwarf 

 Fan-palm. 



Rhapis flabelliformis, Linne 31. 



China and Japan. This exceedingly slender palm attains a 

 height of only a few feet. The stems can be used for various 

 small implements. It is one of the best plants for table-decorations , 

 It bears the climate of the South of France to 40 32 ' K lat. 

 [Naudin] . 



Rhaponticum acaule, Be Candolle. 



On the Mediterranean Sea. A perrenial herb. The root is edible, 



Rheum australe, D. Don.* (R. Emodi, Wallich ; R. Webbianum, Eoyle.) 

 Himalayan regions up to 16,000 feet. From this species at least 

 a portion of the medicinal Bhubarb is obtained, its quality depend- 

 ing much on the climatic region and the geological formation, 

 in which the plant grows. Should we wish to cultivate any species 

 here for superior medicinal roots, localities in our higher and drier 

 alpine tracts should clearly be chosen for the purpose. Hayne 

 regards the presence of much yellowish pigment in the seed-shell 

 as indicating a good medicinal rhubarb-plant. As much as 5 Ibs. 

 of the dried drug are obtainable from a single plant several years 

 old. An important orange-red crystalline substance, emodin, allied 

 to chrysophanic acid, occurs in genuine rhubarb. Medicinal rhubarb- 

 root is now also grown in England. The Himalayan B. Moorcrof- 

 tianum (Boyle) yields also a purgative root. 



Rheum officinale, Baillon.* 



Western China and Eastern Thibet on the high table-land. 

 Height of stem sometimes to 10 feet ; circumference of foliage 

 reaching 30 feet ; blade of leaf 2 feet long and broad [Balf our] . 

 It furnishes most of the true Turkey-Bhubarb, not merely from the 

 root but also from the woody stem. Suited for mountainous 

 regions. Becommended also as a scenic plant by Begel. Hardy 

 still at Christiania. 



