independently recognised by Hemsley, Franchet and 

 Diels as a distinct species, there is no doubt that it is 

 exceedingly closely allied to R. argyrophyllum, Franch.. 

 whose home is in Western Szechuan, and Messrs. Render 

 and Wilson have indicated the possibility that these two 

 may be no more than geographical forms of one species. 

 They are not, however, as a rule difficult to distinguish, 

 for the leaves of R. argyrophyllum are usually more 

 attenuated, and the filaments of the stamens are more 

 densely hairy than is the case in R. hypoglaucum. The 

 densely adpressed mealy indumentum which can be 

 readily removed by scraping, to which the whiteness of 

 the undersurface of the leaves is due, both species share 

 with a few other allied members of the eglandular-leaved 

 group within this section. At Kew, where R. hypoglaucum 

 lias been in cultivation for a number of years, the con- 

 ditions do not appear altogether suitable, and it has not 

 yet flowered. In the milder south-western counties it is 

 more at home, and Mr. J. C. Williams, to whom we are 

 indebted for the material for our plate, from a plant 

 which flowered for the first time in May, 1915, in his 

 collection at Caerhays Castle, remarks that while even 

 under these more favourable conditions it can never find 

 a place in the front rank of Rhododendrons, it must 

 always be of interest as having a very distinct character 

 of its own, and may be expected, when it reaches the age 

 to flower freely, to acquire a certain standing among its 

 congeners. The Caerhays example is one raised from 

 seed obtained by Mr. Wilson during his journey of 

 1900-1, which was first planted by Mr. Williams late in 

 1906 or early in 1907. It was for several years given a 

 situation very open to the sun, which it did not like ; 

 for the past three or four years it has been grown in 

 partial shade, where it has thriven much better, and now 

 forms a healthy bush of pleasing appearance, about four 

 feet high, and over five feet through. Mr. Williams has 

 so far been unable, however, to find a seed pod on the 

 plant. 



Description. — Shrub or small tree, sometimes 20 ft. 

 high ; young twigs bright green, at first puberulous with 

 fine black hairs, at length glabrous. Leaves evergreen, 



