RUBARB, or RHAPONTICK
Sibirischer Rhabarber
Rheum rhaponticum
Rhubarb (Culinary or Tart)
Planet: Mars
Energie: mässig warm und mässig trocken
| - | - |
At the first appearing out of the ground when the Winter is past, it hath a great round brownish head rising from the middle or sides of the Root, which openeth it self into sundry Leavs one after another, very much crumpled or folded together at the first, and brownish, but afterward it spreadeth it self and becometh smooth very large and almost round, every one standing on a brownish Stalk of the thickness of a mans Thumb, when they are grown to their fulness, and most of them two foot and more in length, especially when they grow in any moist or good Ground; and the Stalk of the Leaf also from the bottom thereof to the Leaf it self, being also two Foot, The breadth thereof from edg to edg in the broadest place, being also two foot, of a sad or dark green colour, of a fine tart, or sowrish tast, much more pleasant than the Garden or Wood sorrel. From among these riseth up some but not every yeer, a strong thick Stalk, not growing so high as the Patience or Garden Dock, with such round Leavs as grow below, but smaller, at every Joynt up to the top, and among the Flowers which are white spreading forth into many Branches, and consisting of five or six small white Leavs apiece, hardly to be discerned from the white threds in the middle, and seeming to be all threds, after which come brownish three square Seed like unto other Docks, but larger whereby it may be plainly known to be a Dock. The Root groweth in time to be very great, with divers and sundry great spreading Branches from it, of a dark, brownish, or reddish colour on the outside, with a pale yellow skin under it which covereth the inner substance or Root, which rind and Skin being pared away, the Root appeareth of so fresh and lively a colour, with flesh-colour'd Veins running through it, that the choicest of that Rubarb that is brought us from beyond the Seas cannot excel it: Which Root if it be dried carefully and as it ought (which must be in our Countrey by the gentle heat of a fire in regard the Sun is not hot enough here to do it, and every piece kept from touching one another ) will hold his colour almost as well as when it is fresh; and hath been approved of and commended by those who have oftentimes used them.