also of this group, which has much in common with 
R. inopinatum, is R. Delavayi, Franch., from Yunnan, but 
in this species the leaves differ in shape, the stamens are 
included and the achene-wings are thinly membranous. 
Descoriprion.—fHerb, perennial; rootstock 3 in. thick. 
Stem slender, red, 10 in. to a little over 1 ft. high. Leaves 
firm, somewhat bullate, mostly basal and spreading, occasion- 
ally one or two on the stem above the base ; nerves red 
and scabrid on both sides, otherwise smooth and rather pale 
green above, glaucous green beneath; truncate or cordate 
at the base where 3-5-nerved; middle nerve pinnately 
8—10-branched, lateral nerves 4—6-branched on the outer 
side only ; rounded at the wide apex, very slightly sinuate 
and throughout finely crenate, 3-6 in. long, 2-5 in. wide; 
petiole flattened above, reddish, 13-4 in. long, somewhat 
‘scabrid, especially on the rounded lower side. /njlorescence 
paniculate ; branches simple ; raceme-like thyrses of fascicled 
flowers with slender pedicels jointed below the middle ; 
panicles 6-10 in. long, 23-5 in. across; branches 2-5 in. 
long fastigiate in flower, in fruit forming a pyramidal mass ; 
pedicels about 4 in. long. Calyx-lobes oblong, obtuse, } in. 
long. Stamens usually 9, 3 outer rather longer than the 
other six, all exserted. Nutlets orbicular, cordate below, 
three-winged, rather bright red, nearly 4 in. across; wings 
subentire with a strong nerve some distance with the edge. 
CuLtivation.—R. inopinatum was raised at Kew from 
seeds collected by Capt. H. J. Walton at Gyantse in 
Tibet in September, 1904, during the Tibet Mission, 
and presented by the Director of the Botanical Survey 
of India in 1905; it flowered in a herbaceous border in 
July, 1906. In this open border it has proved an attractive 
little plant, the grey-green leaves forming an excellent foil 
to the bright red or crimson inflorescence, which continued 
at its best for several weeks. Being quite hardy and 
capable of holding its own by reason of its fleshy rootstock 
it ought to find favour as a border plant.—D. Prat. 
Fig. 1,a flower; 2 and 3, front and back view of anther; 4, pistil: 5, cluster 
of fruit :—all enlarged; 6, entire plant :—about 4 nat. size, 
