Tas. 5120. 
RHODODENDRON SMITHtr. 
Sir James Smith's Rhododendron. 
Nat. Ord. Erxtcrm.—Decanpria Monoeoynta. 
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tas. 4336.) 
RHOpODENDRON Smithii ; frutex humilis, foliis oblongo-ellipticis coriaceis acutis 
rugosis impresso-venosis basi cordatis margine revolutis supra glabris subtus 
pallidioribus pilis articulatis supra medium repetitim dichotomo-ramosis 
laxe tomentosis, petiolis setosis, umbellis terminalibus plurifloris capitatis, 
calyce subamplo laxo membranaceo, lobis ovalibus ineequalibus glabris, 
corolla coccinea lato-campanulata subeequaliter quinquelobo, staminibus 8, 
a rectis subinclusis, ovario subcylindraceo pilis subclavatis erectis 
obsito. 
RuopopENDRON Smithii. Nudt. IS. 
From a drawing made by Mr. Holden, of Warrington, at Nut- 
grove, Rainhill, Lancashire, where this plant flowered for the 
first time in March, 1859. It was discovered and introduced to 
England by Mr. Booth, who detected it on the northern slopes 
of the Lablung Pass, Bootan, in company with 2. Hookeri, Nutt., 
and like that it promises to be hardy in our climate. Its affinity 
is with R. barbatum, and it is remarkable for the nature of the 
tomentose clothing of the under side of the leaves. Hach hair 
is jointed, stout at the base, rather copiously and dichotomously 
branched, as is shown at our Figures | and 2. Mr. Nuttall de- 
sires it should bear the name of the late Sir James Edward Smith, 
who was the first to call public attention to its ally the Indian 
Rhododendron arboreum, now so well known in our gardens. 
Descr. A low, branching shrub, with much the habit and 
general aspect of the original 2. arboreum and R. barbatum. 
Leaves a good deal clustered about the extremities of the 
branches, elliptical-oblong, acute, cordate at the base, the mar- 
gins entire and reflexed; above strongly veined, dark-green, — 
beneath pale-green, laxly woolly with rather sparse, jointed hairs, 
which are stout at the base, above repeatedly and dichotomously 
branched. Bracteal scales silky. Corymb or umbel of ten to 
JUNE Ist, 1859. 
. 
