Tab. 8605. 

 RHODODENDRON charianthum. 



Western China. 



Ericaceae. Tribe Rhodoreae. 

 Rhododendron, Linn.-, Benth. et Hook./. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 599. 



Rhododendron charianthum, Hutchinson ; species nova B. longistylo, Rehd 

 et Wils , et B Davidsomano, Rehd. et Wils., affinis; ab illo foliis subtus 

 dense glanduloso-punctatis, calyce vix evoluto, ab hoc corollis intra 

 conspicue et dense rubro-maculatis, stylo inferne parce pubescente differt. 



Frutex parce ramosus; ramuli juniores foliati, graoiles, apicem versus parce 

 lepidoti, cortice brunneo longitudinaliter verruculoso obtecti. Folia 

 oblanceolata vel oblanceokto-elliptica, apice obtuse mucronata, ad basin 

 cuneato angustata, 2-5-5 cm. longa, 1-2 cm. lata, tenuiter coriacea 

 margine minute crenulata utrmque glandulis minimis aureis inter se 0-25- 

 0-5 mm. distantibus ornata, ceterum glabra; costa infra prominens ; nervi 

 laterales utrmsecus 7-9, supra paulum elevati, infra prominuli ; petioli 

 3-6 mm. longi, parce lepidoti. Flores 9-10 in corymbum terminalem sub- 

 planum circiter 9 cm. expansum dispositi; pedicelli graciles, 1-1 • 5 cm 

 longi, parce glandulosi. Calyx brevissimus, undulate lobulatus. Corolla 

 rosea, mtus dorso dense rubro-maculata ; tubus late expansus, circiter 1 cm 

 longus, utrinque glaber; lobi 5, oblongi vel ovato-oblongi, apice rotundati', 

 1-5-2 cm. longi, circiter 1-3 cm. lati. Stamina 10, longe exserta; 

 nlamenta mfeme pubescentia, plus minusvc 2-5 cm. longa; antherae 

 carmineae, 2-25 mm. longae. Ovarium breviter cylindricum, lepidotum, 

 5-loculare; stylus stamimbus paullo longior, inferne minutissime pubescens 

 vel fere glaber, stigmate capitato 1-5 mm. diametro coronatus. Fructus 

 brevissimus, 1 cm. longus, minute lepidotus.— J. Hutchinson. 



The beautiful Rhododendron here described is one of 

 a group of closely allied species, some of which, such as 

 R. yunnanense, Franch., figured at t. 7614 and R. David- 

 sonianum, Rehd. & Wils., figured at t. 8605 of this work, 

 have already become favourites with the cultivators of 

 the genus in this country. As regards its flowers the 

 nearest ally of R. charianthum is the now familiar 

 R. yunnanense, but our plant lacks the hairs on the 

 surfaces and margins of the leaves which are a striking 

 feature of the older species. In other respects R. chari- 

 anthum is very closely related to R. Davidsonianum and 

 to R. lomjistylum, another species described by Render 

 and Wilson. From the latter our plant is readily dis- 

 guished by its more densely glandular leaves ; from the 



June, 1916. 



