Rhubarb
Posted: April 29, 2011
It's springtime, and the spring crop of rhubarb is available.
Rhubarb is a group of plants that belong to the genus Rheum in the family Polygonacea. They are herbaceous perennial plants growing from short, thick rhizomes. They have large fleshy leaves that are somewhat triangular shaped with long fleshy petioles. While the leaves are toxic, the plant’s stalks are cooked and used in pies and other foods for their tart flavor. Rhubarb is now grown in many areas and in greenhouse production, making it available throughout much of the year. In temperate climates, rhubarb is one of the first food plants to be ready for harvest, usually in mid to late spring.
