Tas. 7495. 
RHOD ODENDRON Smrenovi. 
Native of Trans-Caucasia. 
Nat. Ord. Ertcacka2.—Tribe RuoporEx. 
Genus Ruopopenpkon, Linn. ; (Benth. & Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. ii. p. 599.) 
RHODODENDRON (Eurhododendron) Smirnovi; subarboreum, ramulis robustis 
foliisque subtus lana griseo-alba appressa opertis, foliis lineari-oblongis 
obtusiusculis in petiolum robustum brevem griseum angustatis crasse 
coriaceis marginibus subrecurvis supra saturate viridibus subopacis, costa 
pallida subtus valida nervisque obscuris lana opertis, floribus in corymbum 
magnum globosum dense aggregatis breviter pedicellatis, pedicellis robustis 
calyceque brevi obtuse 5-fido lanatis, corolla ampla infundibulare pallide 
rosea v. alba profunde 5-fida, tubo brevi, lobis amplis patulis rotundatis 
marginibus undulato-crispatis saturatius roseis, dorsali punctato, stami- 
nibus 10 declinatis filamentis roseis infra medium pilosis antheris aureis, 
ovario conico-cylindraceo tomentoso 5-loculari, stylo incurvo rubro 
stigmate truncato. = 
R. Smirnovi, Trautv. ea Regel in Gartenfl. vol. xxxiv. (1885) p.335, and vol. xxxv. 
(1885) t. 1226, f. 11, d-g. (execrabilis). 
Two noble species of Rhododendron, Rk. Smirnovi and 
R. Ungerni, showing a marked affinity in foliage with some 
Himalayan congeners, have comparatively recently been 
discovered in the mountains South of the Caucasus by 
Baron Ungern Sternberg of Artwin. Both occupy a 
region intermediate between those of BR. ponticwm, which 
ascends to 5000 ft., and below that of R. caucasicum, 
which descends to 8000 ft., where they form small bushy 
trees, fifteen to twenty feet high. The more precise loca- 
lity is 100 versts (about sixty-six miles) from Batoum. 
Dried specimens of both were sent by the Baron to M. 
Smirnow, by whom they were communicated to Prof. 
Trautvetter of St. Petersburgh, and were there described 
by Dr. Regel in the work cited above. Later, seeds of both 
were obtained by Massalsky, a collector for the Imperial 
Botanical Garden of St. Petersburgh, a portion of which 
were sent to Kew by Dr. Regel in 1866, and from these 
the plant here figured was raised. It flowered when only 
a foot high, in the early part of May, 1894. Mr. Watson 
informs me that it is perfectly hardy at Kew, forming a 
SEPTEMBER Ist, 1896. 
