Tab. 7019. 



RHODODENDRON Colutiianqm. 

 Native of Afghanistan. 



Nat. Ord. Eeicace.e. — Tribe Rhodoke.e. 

 Genoa Rhododendron, Linn.; (Bentli. et Hooh.f. Gen. PL vol. ii. p. 599.) 



Ehododendbon CoIIettianum ; fruticosum, glabrum, rainulis furfuraeeis, foliis 

 breviter petiolatis elliptico-lanceolatis utrinque acutis subtus dense pallide 

 lepidotis nervis obscuris, bracteis inflorescentis9 rotunditis coriaceis apiculatia 

 ciliatis, floribus dense congestis albis, bracteis floralibus linearibus sepalisque 

 oblongia obtusis villosis, corolla infundibular! 5-loba intus pubescente, lobis 

 oblongo-ovatis obtusis, staruinibus 10 tubo inclusis, filamentis pilosis, antherb 

 parvis, ovario brevi, stylo brevi crasso, stigmate eapitato breviter 5-lobo, 

 capsula parva oblongo-ovoidea obtusa lopidoto-glaudulosa sepalis membranaeeia 

 vix duplo longiore. 



It. CoIIettianum, Aitch. $" Helms, in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xviii. p. 75, t. xx. 

 figs. 1-8, and vol. xix. p. 175. 



An alpine Affghan Rhododendron, compared by its de- 

 scribes, Helinsley and Aitchison, as closely approaching 

 the Himalayan B. Anthopogon, but differing in the larger 

 size, straight flower, ten stamens, and corolla hairy all over 

 within. To me it does not appear to be nearly allied to 

 any known species, except its fellow-countryman B. 

 affghanicum, Aitch. & Helms., which closely resembles it 

 in foliage, inflorescence, and bracts, but which has a much 

 shorter corolla with exserted stamens. The corolla of 

 CoIIettianum is not (as described) salver-shaped, but funnel- 

 shaped. 



B. CoIIettianum was collected during the Kurrum Valley 

 Expedition of 1879, by both Major Collett and Dr. 

 Aitchison, on the Saf ed Koh and elsewhere in Afghanistan, 

 at altitudes of 10,000 to 13,000 feet, where it commences 

 at the upper limit of tree vegetation and forms thickets 

 with masses of Juniper. It thus occupies a higher level 

 than B. ajfghanicum, which affects rocks on the same 

 mountains at 7000 to 9000 feet elevation. The plant here 

 figured was raised from seed sent by Dr. Aitchison in 

 1880, and which flowered in the open rock-work of the 

 Royal Gardens in May of the present year. The foliage 



OCTOBER 1st, 1888. 



