Xt. stamineum, differs from its allies in having strikingly 
long, far-exserted stamens. A native of Western China, 
where it was met with by Mr. E. H. Wilson in 1900 
when collecting on behalf of Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, 
it affects particularly rocky shady ravines; although 
widely spread in that region, it is, according to Mr. 
Wilson, nowhere really common. For the material from 
which the accompanying plate has been prepared we are 
indebted to Mr. J. C. Williams, Caerhays Castle, Gorran, 
Cornwall, in whose renowned collection it flowered in 
April, 1914. The plant by which that material was 
provided grows, Mr. Williams informs us, on a steep 
hillside which faces east, but is well sheltered on all 
sides from the wind, with no shade save what is afforded 
by the contour of the locality, and fully exposed to 
whatever of sun its side of the hill receives. This plant, 
which was obtained by Mr. Williams from Messrs. Veitch 
in 1903 and is now nearly six feet in height and some 
five feet through near the ground, has borne stray 
flowers for three years and is now, in 1915, covered with 
bud. At Caerhays R. stamineum has been tried in other 
aspects, and the most vigorous individual plant in the 
collection there is in partial shade on a hillside which 
faces rather to the north of east. But while this 
example of /. stamineum forms a beautiful evergreen 
with a fine black-green foliage and young growths of a 
charming bronze colour, it has not yet, although thirteen 
years old, produced any flowers. Mr. Williams remarks 
‘that in his experience the sun kills more plants at 
Caerhays than does the frost, though the wind is always 
the worst enemy, and that if only the wind can be kept 
out, a hillside which faces east or north-east is preferable 
for most of the Rhododendrons. From the experience 
in other collections it would appear that R. stamineum is 
not an easy plant to keep in vigorous health or to flower 
freely. When success attends the effort, the pains 
expended are well recompensed whether for the charm 
of the form or the fragrance of the flowers. At Caerhays 
it is propagated by means of layering. 
Description.—-Shrub; twigs subterete, about 1 in. 
thick ; bark glabrous, pale brown. Leaves ovate-lanceo- 
