15 
Ennsandma L.nk^,, 
RHUBARB. 
RHEU.NI RHABARBARU M. 
W E have at different times received many Plants under the name of Rlmbarb into 
our gardens ; for men were curious to know, to what Species that inefliniabl 
Root belonged. They often were deceived, for thofe were ignorant who undertook to 
gather it ; but among many errors, ’tis plain enough there came alfo truth. I'Jjis Spcci 
men was from the North of China, wild upon the hills, where a great deal of Rhubarb 
is taken up for commerce. I received it from one too careful to make miflakes • anj 
who had opportunities of knowing. The Seeds came with it, and the Plants wiiid 
rife from them, I think, will fhew, that the Species, now called Rhubarb, in our bell 
gardens, is fo. The difference between that and the prefent figure, is no more th 
would naturally rife from culture, and a different climate. The Roots of this and f 
the palmated kind, ’tis faid arc gathered indifi'erently for commerce. 
Altho’ the Flowers are trifling, there is fufficient beauty in the wEole Plant Th 
Leaves have a bold and elegant wave upon their edges ; and the flature of the Plant 
together with their difpofition, the colouring of the Stalk, and frequent purple of the 
ribs in the lower Leaves, make it extreamly well worth culture ; efpecially as it requires 
little care; and lives in full expofure. 
The Plant is a yard high, and its duller of Leaves even without a Stalk, have fufli- 
c.ent elegance. The Flowers are pale, they have no Cup, and one fmall Petal forms 
them ; clofc at the bafe, and cut into fix fegments. 
They err’d who plac’d k with the Docks ; though its Flowers, Seeds, and whole Habit 
urally m^ht have jullihcd the millake in times when the prefent diflindions of Plantl 
were not fufficentjy known. The certain charaders of the Sexual Syllem plainly feparate 
ments .n the Flower are nine ; and this invariably, according to thelwf of theix al 
Syllem p aces tt m the ninth Clafs, the Enneandria : As the lall named Species w^T e 
terr il to the Hexandna for their fix Filam^nrc d* r i were re 
ibt Htptmdm and Oaandra cba,.a„'d b. f “ j f ' “ 1"'° '"“'"‘“I”'' ^1./®., 
fo™ I, „o„fb.„or, ,b, 
piopomonal gcadalion, dcclarts tim nai T " boiog boi a regular or 
Genera. ‘ ^ vaft a dillance of thefe 
Dock, for Plants, probably this, and the 
together; as the Croetis and the C I I ° another, will be brought 
doV. s.r.a.bi.:!';: i.t -f i”-- ^ 
foever It might feem to a youn? E ita A k opinion : and how Arange 
Plants with fix and with feven Fikments"' il ' fiotween two 
-a fix. theff being ptopottional Varilnr;^ Ste 
Rheum i.-olii,rubvinofi,.Pg, ip,, Lio. 
A /. ■ya' 
■>? . /y/- 
