Rhubarb - online puzzles

Online puzzle Rhubarb

For the term pertaining to baseball, see bench-clearing brawl.

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is a species of plant in the family Polygonaceae. It is a herbaceous perennial growing from short, thick rhizomes. It produces large leaves which contain oxalic acid, are somewhat triangular, with long fleshy edible stalks and small flowers grouped in large compound leafy greenish- white to rose - red inflorescences.

In culinary use, fresh raw leaf stalks (petioles) are crisp (similar to celery, although they do not share the same family ) with a strong, tart taste. Although rhubarb is not a true fruit, in the kitchen it is usually prepared as if it were. Most commonly, the stalks are cooked with sugar and used in pies, crumbles and other desserts. Several varieties have been domesticated for human consumption, most of which are recognised as Rheum x hybridum by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Rhubarb contains anthraquinones including rhein, and emodin and their glycosides (e.g. glucorhein), which impart cathartic and laxative properties.