Class V. Order I. 03 



Caespitose. Stems procumbent, spreading in tufts. Leaves 

 opposite, oblong, obtuse, strongly revolute at the edges, upper 

 side glabrous, green, under side glaucous and nearly concealed 

 by the edges and midrib. Flowers axillary, peduncles red. Ca- 

 lyx leaves ovate, subacute. Corolla purple, campanulate, the 

 segments ovate, tapering to an obtuse point, glabrous. Stamens 

 longer than the tube, filaments white with roundish black an- 

 thers. Style erect, longer than the stamens ; stigma two parted, 

 On the alpine summits of the White mountains, N. H. July. 



AZALEA LAPPONICA. L. Northern Azalea. 



Leaves oblong oval, pitted ; stamens irregular in 

 number. 



Syn. RHODODENDRON LAPPONICUM. Wahl. 



A beautiful, low, alpine shrub. Leaves coriaceous, evergreen, 

 scattered, oblong-oval, covered above with fine white pits, the 

 under surface paler and dotted with black. Flowers subumbelled. 

 Peduncles and calyx red, covered with light green glands. Seg- 

 ments of the calyx ovate, ciliate. Corolla deep purple, campan- 

 ulate with oblong, obtuse segments. Stamens from five to ten 

 curved, with purple filaments and oblong green anthers. Style 

 longer. On the alpine regions of the White mountains, New- 

 Hampshire. July. 



Wahlenberg refers this shrub to Rhododendron, with which its 

 habit certainly agrees. The variable number of stamens leaves 

 it doubtful between that genus and Azalea. 



87. DIAPENSIA. 



DIAPENSIA LAPPONICA. L. Northern Diapensia. 



Caespitose, flowers pedunculated. 



A hardy caespitose plant found only in northern latitudes or on 

 high mountain?, forming dense solid tufts in the crevices of 

 the rocks, and flowing within a few inches of the snow and ice. 

 Stems short, diffuse, concealed in the leaves. Leaves crowded, 

 linear obtuse, fleshy, evergreen. Calyx leaves five, oblong, ob- 

 tuse. Corolla hypocrateriform, white, the border in five flat 

 segments. Stamens inserted in the tube. Style exserted ; stig- 

 ma obtuse. 



On the highest summit of the White mountains, whero it 



