Rhubarb has been cultivated for thousands of years and consists of rhizomes from which grow long, fleshy stalks known as petioles which terminate in large, somewhat triangular leaves. The stalks are the part of the plant which are eaten, and have a crunchy texture similar to celery when raw and tend to be red in colour. The leaves are not eaten, as they contain toxic substances.
Rhubarb can be grown at home in the garden in may areas, and is also a popular plant for growing indoors. In the "rhubarb triangle" in the UK rhubarb is grown in forcing sheds and harvested by candlelight, which causes the stalks to be sweeter and more tender.
Rhubarb is actually a vegetable, but usually treated like a fruit. It can be eaten raw - dipping the stalks into sugar and eating them that way is popular - or cooked. It's a popular ingredients in pies and crumbles which, as the rhubarb is treated like a fruit, are sweet dessert dishes rather than savoury ones.
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