Syringa pubescens Syringa pubescens Syringa pubescens is a species of flowering plant in the lilac genus of the family Oleaceae, native to Korea and China (Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Jilin, Liaoning, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan). Growing to tall and broad, it is a substantial deciduous shrub with green leaves felted white beneath, and panicles of heavily scented, white-throated lilac flowers in early summer. The specific epithet "pubescens" means "downy", referring to the texture of the leaves. Three subspecies (formerly listed as separate species) are recognised: The cultivar "S. pubescens" subsp. "microphylla" 'Superba' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of
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