Rhubarb

(Redirected from Rheum)

Rhubarb is one of about 60 plants in the genus Rheum, family Polygonaceae. The vegetable rhubarb is Rheum rhabarbarum (or Rheum x hybridum). The leaves are somewhat toxic because they have oxalic acid, but the red stalks are baked in pies, with sugar to soften their tart flavor.

Rhubarb
Rheum rhabarbarum.2006-04-27.uellue.jpg
Scientific classification e
Unrecognized taxon (fix): Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rheum
Species:
R. rhabarbarum
Binomial name
Rheum rhabarbarum

There are many varieties grown for eating. The drug rheum is prepared from the rhizomes and roots of another species, R. officinale or medicinal rhubarb.