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 | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| 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.