RHEUM, a genus of phuits belonging to the natural order Polygonaceze. Several species grow in the N.W. Hiinalaya, and the roots of some of the species, known aa rhubarb, are valuable in medicine. One species grows in Kaghan where it is known under the name of Chotial. cap sicum, Fischer, is a plant of the Altai ; R. corn pactum, Linn., grows in Tartary and China ; R. crassinerviurn, Fischer, ha.s heart-shaped leaves ; leucorrhizon, Pallas, a plant of Tartary, supposed to yield some of the best rhubarb of commerce ; R. palinatum, Linn., grows near the great wall of China and in the Himalaya; R. rhaponticurn, L., grows north of the Caspian ; R. ribes is the Itiwash of Persia ; R. spiciforme, /?oy/e, grows in Kanawar and iia the N.W. Himalaya ; R. undulatum, Lam., is a plant of China and Siberia ; It, Webbianum, Boyle, grows at 12,000 feet on the Ohm. mountain. Dr. J. I,. Stewart say-s that at least two species of rhubarb are frequent in parts of the Panjab Himalaya, from 6200 to 14,000 feet, It. Al oorcroftianum occurring still higher, from 15,000 to 17,000 feet. The officinal ribas of the Panjab drug-sellers con sists of the dried stalks from Kabul, which may partly be produced by the Rivas, or R. ribes, Gron., a native of Carmel, also Eastern Persia,' and the Hindu Kush. In Afghanistan the plant is always wild, and appears to grow abundantly in many parts. When green, the leaf-stalks are called riwash, and when blanched by heaping up stones and gravel round them, are called chukri ; when fresh (in which state they are sometimes brought to Peshawur in aping), they are eaten either raw or cooked, and they are also dried for use to be eaten with other food, and are some times made into a preserve. The root is imported into Afghanistan and India, to be used as a purgative. It is stated by Mooreroft that the Bliotia, of Garhwal apply the powdered root to wounds and bruises, and that they use it with Rubio. cordifolia and potash for dyeing red. R.
emodi, Wall., R. Moorcroftianum, Meisn., R. spiciforme, Royle, yield the officinal rhubarb root. The genus has many useful plants.
Rheum australe, Don.
R. emodi, TVall. 1 R. Webbiana, Boyle.
A plitut of the N.W. Himalaya up to 16,000 feet. It is less active as a purgative, and more spong,y in texture. lionigberger mentions that it vegetates in wild luxuriane,e on the Kashmir mountains, is considered as one of the best rhubarbs, notwithstanding the coarse appear ance of its exterior and it can be had fresh and cheap in any quantity, and at any time.
Rheum Mooreroftianum, Meisn., was found by Mooreroft near the Niti pass in the Himalaya at an elevation of 12,000 feet. The root yields a valuable medicine (chukri), while the leaf-stalks are agreeably acid and cooling ; tror ' are eaten as a vegetable.
Rheum officinale, Boullen, W. China and E. Tibet, Turkey.
Rheum palmatum, L., rhubarb. Khagi, Amts. ellukri, . . l'as.r. Tit-rok.taha, . . Amor. Vartatu kalang, . Tait Bewand °hint, . . IIIND.
The stalks are extensively eaten in Kabul. The root is used by Europeans as a stonutchic and astringent in small doses, and as a purgative in larger ones, especially in dyspepsia and strumous affections. A variety from the Tanqut country yields the Kiakhta or Kan-su rhubarb of Maxi rnowiez.
Rheum rhapontieum, Linn., R. tataricum, L. f., and It. undulatus, Linn.; their acidulous leaves and unexpanded flower mass are used for culinary purposes.—Powell; Honigb.; Cleghorn, Report ; Stewart ; Royle's Ill.; .111Oorcroft's Tr.; Von Mueller. See Rhubarb.