542 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Linn., Sp. PL 531 ; Willdenow, Sp. PL ii. 488 ; Lindley, Flor. Med. 357 ; 

 Royle, Mat. Med. 506 ; Guibourt, Hist. Abreg. ed. 2, 1, 335. 



This species is a native of Thrace, Siberia, North of the Caspian Sea, &c. 

 Guibourt says that the root has a very astringent and mucilaginous taste, does 

 not crackle under the teeth, has an odour like that of Rhubarb, but more dis- 

 agreeable, and its powder is more reddish. It is cultivated for its roots, near 

 L'Orient, in the department of Morbihan. The prepared root is similar to the 

 Chinese article, and forms part of what is called French Rhubarb. It was 

 analyzed by M. Henry (Bull. Pharm. vi. 87). It is also cultivated in Eng- 

 land for its roots, but more extensively for its stalks, for which latter purpose 

 it is also grown in this country, but not as frequently as some of the other 

 species. 



6. R. leucorhizum, Pallas. — Radical leaves about 3, short-stalked, coriaceous, trans- 

 versely elliptical, scarcely hollowed out at base ; with 3, thick, branched nerves project- 

 ing very much beneath, smooth on both sides, denticulate at the edge, with here and 

 there a few scattered, roughish warts; no cauline leaves, or scarcely ever one; petioles 

 about an inch long, compressed, solid, with a narrow channel on the upper side. 



Pallas, Nov. Act. Petrop. x. 381 ; Ledebour, Fl. Altai, ii. 92 ; Lindley, 

 Flor. Med. 356 ; R. nanum, Sievers, Pall. n. nord. beitr. vii. 264 ; R. ta- 

 taricum, Linn., Suppl. 229. 



Grows in the deserts of Southern Siberia, the Altai Mountains, &c. 

 This is a small species. This is supposed to yield what is called " White 

 Rhubarb;" at least, when Pallas was at Kiatcha, this article, which is said to 

 be equal in its effects to the best kinds, was brought there by the Bucharian 

 merchants, and he supposes that it was the produce of this plant, but Lede- 

 bour says nothing of its roots. 



7. R. crassinervium, Fischer. — Leaves heart-shaped, acuminate, wavy, very bullate, 

 deep-green, quite smooth on both sides, rather glossy on the upper ; scabrous at the 

 edge; the ribs of a slight red eolour, and the central ones very thick at base; sinus open, 

 cuneate, with the lobes inflected. Petiole dull-red, rounded, rather angular, with the 

 upper side narrow and flattened, the edges raised, narrower at point than at base. 



Lindley, Flor. Med. 359. 



Its place of growth is unknown. It was sent from St. Petersburg with this 

 name, and is growing at the Apothecaries' Garden at Chelsea, near London. 

 Dr. Lindley says that roots of it, of three years of age, were as thick as the 

 wrist ; and, when examined at Apothecaries' Hall, were found to possess the 

 peculiar odour and colour of the best Turkey Rhubarb. 



8. R. caspicum, Fischer. — Leaves ovate, acuminate, cordate and inflexed at base, very 

 wavy, of a deep green, thick texture, glossy and somewhat even on the upper side, 

 scabrous at the edge, a little downy on the under surface. Sinus somewhat open, lobes 

 rolling inwards. Petioles pale-green, with scarcely a tinge of red, minutely downy, 

 semi-cylindrical, with elevated edges to the flat upper side, which is of equal breadth at 

 both ends. 



Lindley, Flor. Med. 357 ; R. rhaponticum, Ledebour, Fl. Altai, ii. 91. 

 It is found near the Caspian Sea, and Altai Mountains. Nothing is known 

 of its roots. 



9. R. undulatum, Linn. — Leaves oval, obtuse, very wavy, deep-green, with the veins 

 purple at base, often shorter than the petiole, downy on both sides, scabrous at the edge. 

 Sinus open, cuneiform, lower lobes turned upwards. Petiole downy, blood-red, semi- 

 cylindrical, with elevated edges on the upper side, narrower at the upper end than at the 

 lower. 



Linn., Sp. PL 531 ; Willdenow, Sp. PL ii. 489 ; Stephenson and 



