Tas. 4728. 
AZALEA AM@NA. 
Bright-flowered Azalea. 
Nat. Ord. ERickE#.—PENTANDRIA Monoeynta. 
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, TAB. 4726.) 
AZALEA amena ; humilis, ramis foliisque obovato-ellipticis integerrimis supra 
precipue margineque appresse setosis, floribus terminalibus subcorymbosis, 
calyce colorato amplo corollam subsequante profunde 5-fido lobis incisis ci- 
liatis, staminibus 5 exsertis. 
AZALEA amena. Paxton et Lindi. Flower Garden, v. 3. t. 89. 
This lovely Azalea was introduced to Messrs. Standish and 
Noble’s extensive nursery, Bagshot, by Mr. Fortune, from 
Shanghae, where it was cultivated, and to which place it had 
been brought from the far-famed city of Soo-chow-foo. It is 
Supposed by Mr. Fortune to be “from a country further north 
than any of its race in China have been known to inhabit, or at 
all events from a higher elevation on the mountains.” Certain 
it is, that at Bagshot a plant has stood out the whole winter, 
unharmed, without protection, and it is expected to be perfectly 
hardy. Our plant was received from Messrs. Standish and 
Noble ; and the little bush, in April, 1853, was covered with its 
eautiful richly-coloured blossoms in a cool greenhouse, where 
other Indian Azaleas are protected. Mr. Fortune pronounces it 
to be a very distinct species ; and assuredly, difficult as it may 
often be to pronounce on the specific value of Azaleas cultivated 
by the Chinese, we see no reason to doubt the correctness of 
r. Fortune’s opinion in the present imstance. We cannot but 
©xpress surprise that the flowers in the ‘ Flower Garden,’ above 
quoted, are described as having that kind of double corolla which 
18 called * hose in hose :” and further, “ no calyx is discoverable ; 
but whether that organ is absent, or is converted into the external 
Corolla, is uncertain.” This error has apparently arisen from the 
“arge size of the calyx (nearly as large as the corolla), and its 
Ing coloured like the corolla ; but that this organ is /he true 
AUGUST IsT, 1853. 
