ERICACEJE, 



235 RHODODENDRON. 



Gr. go^ov, a rose, 2ivlgov. a tree; the species are all ornamental, and some 

 even splendid flowering shrubs. Lvs. alternate, entire, deciduous or ever- 

 green. Flowers mostly in terminal, corymbose clusters. Corollas variously 

 shaded from white through red to blue. Caps, with dissepiments introflexed 

 from the margin of the valves. 



* Corolla very irregular, deeply 3-paned, upper segment broadest. Stamens 10, unequal. 



Rhodora. 



1. R. CaNADE'NSIS. Torr. Rhodora Canadense. L. 

 Leaves alternate, oval, entire, subrevolute on the margins, glaucous- 

 pubescent beneath ; corolla deeply divided into 3 segments, of which the 

 upper one is much the broadest, 2 or 3 lobed at the end, in testivation enfold- 

 ing the 2 lower entire petals. A handsome flowering shrub, remarkable for 

 the appearing of the flowers in May, before the leaves are expanded. Sterna 

 about 2 feet high, dividing at their tops into many erect, slender, flowering 

 branches. Each branch, while yet naked of foliage, bears a terminal, 

 corymbose cluster of half a dozen purple flowers. Corolla about an inch long. 

 Stamens curved downwards, about equal to the corolla, rather shorter than 

 the style. This plant corresponds with the Linnaean Rhododendron in all 

 respects save the very irregular corolla ; and even in this it is not essentially 

 different. 



* * Corolla somewhat funnel-form, tube long, cylindric, more or less viscid, limb unequal, 



spreading. Stamens 5 or G. Azalea. 



2. R. NUDIFLO'ra. Torr. Azalea nudiflora. L, 

 Leaves oblong-lanceolale and oblanccolale ; j7o?ccv5 rather naked, slightly 



viscid ; tube of the corolla longer than the lobes; stamens much exserled. A 

 beautiful and fragrant flowering siirub, 4— (3 feet high, rather frequent in the 

 forests and thickets of the Northern Slates as well as the Southern. Stems 

 crooked, much branched above, the young branches hairy. Leaves elliptical, 

 2 inches or more in length, 1 in width, margins ciliate, upper surface with 

 minute, scattered hairs, lower paler and pubescent, with the midrib hispid. 

 Flowers appearing before the leaves are fully grown in rather naked umbels. 

 Peduncles G— 8 lines long. Calyx minule, with rounded, ciliale segments. 

 Tube of corolla C— 8 lines in length, hairy, and, with the spreading, unequal 

 limb variously shaded from pale pink to purple. Stamens purple, declinate, 

 twice as long as the corolla. Style nearly 3 limes as long. It varies in the 

 number of stamens, color of corolla, «SfC. Apr. May. Sicavip Pink. 



3. R. VISCO'SA. Torr. Azalea viscosa. L. 

 Leaves obovate and oblong-lanceolate ; fioxcers accompanied with leaves, 



very viscid ; tube of the corolla twice as long as the lobes ; stamens a little 

 exserted. Less frequent than the last, in rorky woods, &c. Shrub 4 — 6 feet 

 high, much branched above, the branches hispid. Leaves 1 — 2 inches long 

 and about half as wide, smoothish, hispid, ciliate on the petiole, midrib and 

 margin. Flowers fragrant, in terminal umbels, on hairy pedicels, not appearing 

 untiTthe leaves are fully grown. Calyx minute and ciliate. Corolla white, 

 tube an inch in length, clothed with glandular hairs, and very clninmy, limb 

 unequal. Stamens and style declined, the latter longest. May, June. 



Clammy tiwainp Pink. 



4. R. NI'tIDUM. Torr. Azalea nitidum. L. 

 Leaves oblanceolate, coriaceous, smooth both sides, shining above, margins 



revolute ; _/Zo)oe/-5 accompanied with leaves, viscid; Zh/>c much longer than 

 the segments ; s<« mens exserted. In mountain swamps, Ms. and N. Y. Shrub 

 3 — G feet high, with nearly smooth branches. Leaves dark green above, 1 — 2 

 inches in length and one third as wide, roundish and submucronate above, 

 tapering at the base into very short petioles, midrib hispid beneath. Flowers 



