Syringa Syringa Syringa (lilac) is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering woody plants in the olive family (Oleaceae), native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere. The genus is most closely related to "Ligustrum" (privet), classified with it in Oleaceae tribus Oleeae subtribus Ligustrinae. Lilacs are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including copper underwing, scalloped oak and Svensson's copper underwing. They are small trees, ranging in size from tall, with stems up to diameter. The leaves are opposite (occasionally in
Rheum (plant) represented by about 60 extant species. Among species found in the wild, those most commonly used in cooking are the garden rhubarb ("R. rhabarbarum") and the so-called false rhubarb ("R. rhaponticum"), which is actually a true rhubarb. The many varieties of cultivated rhubarb more usually grown for eating are recognised as "Rheum" × "hybridum" in the Royal Horticultural Society's list of recognised plant names. The drug rheum is prepared from the rhizomes and roots of another species, "R. officinale" or medicinal rhubarb. This species is also native to Asia, as is the turkey rhubarb ("R. palmatum"). Another species, the Sikkim