Rhubarb
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 | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Polygonaceae |
Genus: | Rheum |
Species: | R. rhabarbarum
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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.