A pen and ink drawing showing a study of a Rheum rhaponticum, commonly known as false rhubarb. A single stem is shown with large heart-shaped leaves at the bottom and pointed heads of flowers at the top. An ink and wash border is shown around the edge of the sheet.
Inscribed lower centre: Rheum Raphonticum [sic] folus cordatis glabis specis obtisus Rhubarb with Smooth heart shaped leaves and obtuse spike of Flowers N^o 4 Charlotte Augusta Matilda  

Queen Charlotte and her daughters had a serious interest in botany. This drawing of a Rheum rhaponticum is one of several plant studies from a volume of drawings by Charlotte, Princess Royal. While some of these drawings have clearly been copied from the illustrations of important botanical books, such as John Miller's Illustrations of the Sexual System of Linnaeus, others appear to be studies from actual plants. For other items in this volume see Princess Royal Volume.