Tas. 4457, 
RHODODENDRON rormosvuo. 
Beautiful Rhododendron. 
Nat. Ord. Erxtcace®.—Drcanpria MonoGynta. 
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tas. 4336.) 
RHoDODENDRON formosum ; fruticosa gracilis, foliis oblongo-obovatis in petio- 
lum brevem attenuatis vix coriaceis junioribus precipue villosis subtus 
pallidis, pedicellis unifloris brevibus basi bracteatis, calyce brevissimo obscure 
5-lobo, corolle (albz roseo-tinctee) tubo infundibuliformi-campanulato 5- 
angulato, limbo amplissimo 5-lobo lobis rotundatis undulatis obtusissimis, 
- filamentis (10) glanduloso-pilosis, ovario minute squamuloso. 
RHopopENDRON formosum. Wall. Plant. Asiat. Rar. v.38. p.3. #,207. De 
Cand. Prodr. v. 7. p. 721. 
RuopopENDRON Gibsoni. Hort. 
Our drawing of this truly beautiful and rare Rhododendron 
was made from a plant which flowered in a greenhouse at Syon 
Garden, Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland’s, April 
1849: at the same time a plant which had been presented to 
the Royal Gardens by Mr. Low of Clapton, blossomed there also. 
Tn both cases the plants were sent as the Rhododendron Gibsom 
of Mr. Paxton. Nor is there any reason to doubt the correct- 
ness of this appellation. Be that as it may, the ‘species has 
been made known to the botanical world by an excellent figure in 
the Plants: Asiaticee Rariores of Dr. Wallich, ever since the year 
1832. It was discovered by the late Mr. Smith so early as 1815, 
on the mountains bordering on Silhet in Eastern Himalaya. The 
flowers are very large and highly fragrant, and the habit of 
the plant is that of Rhododendron (or Azalea of most authors) 
ledifolium: but the leaves and the calyx are totally different. 
When brought by cultivation to the same degree of perfection 
_ as the plant just mentioned, it will be one of the most valuable 
shrubs for early forcing that can be conceived. Mr. Gibson, 
collector for His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, brought it from 
India some years ago, and it is probably one of the several species 
AveusT lst, 1849, 
