Tas. 5005. 
AZALEA OCCIDENTALIS. 
Californian Azalea. 
Nat. Ord. Ertcke®.—PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tas. 4726.) 
Aza.Ea occidentalis ; corymbis magis minusve foliosis, ramulis junioribus pubes- 
centibus, foliis oblongis obovato-oblongisve pilosulis preecipue ad costam 
marginemque, lobis calycinis parvis oblongis hursutis ciliatisve, corollz tubo 
glanduloso-pubescente limbi lobos eequante, staminibus styloque longe ex- 
sertis. 
AZALBA occidentalis. Torrey et Gray, MSS. ined. 
Azauza calendulacea. Hook. et Arn. Bot. of Beech. Voy. p. 361. 
Our drawing was made from a beautiful specimen sent by 
the Messrs. Veitch (Exeter and Chelsea Nurseries), which was 
raised from seeds sent direct from California by Wm. Lobb. Spe- 
cimens from Captain Beechey’s Voyage in H.M. Surveying-ship 
‘Sulphur’ were there noticed by us, though doubtfully (in the 
‘Botany’ of that voyage), as the Azalea calendulacea of Hastern 
America; and that is perhaps its nearest affinity, and we think 
very close affinity. We possess specimens also from Douglas and 
Hartweg (n. 1827), all gathered in California, and from the 
North Umqua by Mr. Burke within the Oregon territory. I am 
favoured by Messrs. Torrey and Gray with specimens gathered 
by Dr. J.'M. Bigelow, during “Lieutenant A. W. Whipple's 
Exploration* for a railway route from the Mississippi River 
to the Pacific Ocean near the 35th parallel of latitude, during 
1853-4,” to which these able botanists have given the name, 
which we here adopt, of Azalea occidentalis. 1 had considered 
it, when I had only access to dried specimens, as probably not 
different from A. calendulacea ; and now that I have seen the 
living plant, I am not prepared to say that it is a distinct species. 
The leaves are the same, and the form and structure, etc., of the 
flowers are the same, but the colour of the corolla is different : 
* We are informed by our friend Dr. Engelmann, that the Botany of this 
Survey, which will include our plant, is printed, and will soon be published. 
SEPTEMBER Ist, 1857. 
