PIPEHACE^.. 213 



Darwin states that the root grown in Knghind does not possess tli^ medical 

 properties of that raised in 'I'artary. It is found also growing in tropical 

 India. 



Etjimologij. — Tlie name Rheum is from Rha, tjie ancient name of the Volga 

 river, the plant liaviug been first brought to the notice of man by specimens 

 procured along the banks of the Volga. Rhaponticinn, the .specific name of the 

 plant under garden cultivation, and from which the several varieties have 

 been derived, is made up of the words Rha, the name of the Volga, and Pontus, 

 a district of country where the plant was found. l)e C'andolle gave it this 

 name, which signifies " rhubarb from Pontus." It was formerly supposed to 

 be tlie species wliich produces the root of commerce, and it has also been 

 claimed that the H. palmatum is the true or parent species, from which all 

 others have arisen, and that the K. compactum is the original species. But 

 the properties of the different .species and varieties are so similar that they 

 may be substituted for each other. Rhubarb is a contraction of rheum bar- 

 barum, the rheum of the barbarians. 



Uistorij. — The fine medicinal rhubarl) known as Russian or Turkey l\hu- 

 barb entirely disappeared from commerce in 18G.3. It derived its name of 

 Turkey from its being formerly brought into Europe through the Levantine 

 ports, and in more recent times was named Russian from its being imported 

 through the Russo-Chinese frontier town of Kiachta, at which place the Rus- 

 sian government maintained an establishment for its rigid inspection for 

 nearly two hundred years, up to 1863, when all inspection was abolished. 

 Neither the botanical source of this rhubarb nor the j)lace of its origin were 

 ever known. The present rhubarb of commerce, known as China or Eai?t 

 Indian Rhul)arb, is collected in the Chinese provinces of Shensi Kanshu and 

 Szechuen, tlionce sent to Hankow, whence it reaches Europe and America by 

 way of Shangliai. It is defined in the PharmacopaMa of the Fnited States as 

 "the root of Rheum officinale and of other undetermined species of rheum." 



Use. — The root of the rheum furnishes one of the most reliable substances 

 in the materia medlca. It is cathartic, astringent, and tonic ; and is largely 

 used in alterative medicines and in preparations to correct and excite the 

 digestive apparatus, as well as in medicines for reducing inflammatory con- 

 ditions of the bowels. It contains much oxalic acid. 



The leaf-stalk is u.sed in culinary preparations, — tarts, pies, puddings, 

 dumplings, and .sauce. It is also preserved in sugar. It is now found in 

 every well-kept kitchen-garden, and is an important article in the market- 

 garden. 



Order XLV. PIPERACE^. 



Flowers perfect or dioecious, without euvelope.s, in lou"', pt^duucled 

 spikes, each flower protected by a peltate or decurrent bract ; stamens 

 2 or 3, sometimes to many, filaments short ; ovary s(>ssile, globular, 

 of 3-4-distinct carpels, with several ovules, or 1 -celled, 1-ovuled. Berry 

 dry or fleshy ; seed globose, testa thin, cartilaginous. Leaves fre- 

 quently succulent, opposite or whorled, occasionally alternate, entire; 

 nerves obscure, reticulate ; petiole short, shcathinu at base. Herbs or 

 .shrubs. 



No. of genera, 8; species, 1,000. Chiefly tropical; Asia and 

 America. 



