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RHODODENDRON Rollissonii. 



Garden Variety. 



In many respects this very striking plant so much resem- 

 bles Rhododendron nobile, the Ceylon variety of R. arboreum, 

 especially in its deep red flowers, and the closeness with which 

 they are arranged, that we supposed it must be it. But upon 

 comparing it with wild specimens from Ceylon we find that 

 the Rhododendron of that island has leaves silvery under- 

 neath, while in the plant before us they are rusty. It is there- 

 fore clear that R. Rollissonii has had some other origin, but 

 what that origin was we do not know. 



It is among the handsomest of the crowd of varieties, 

 called hybrids, which tempt the buyer at every shop, and 

 seems in colour to resemble most a plant called Mars bv 

 Mr. Lee, of Hammersmith; but its flowers are much more 

 compact. 



And now a word or two concerning the habits of the 

 Indian Rhododendron. There is a common belief that the 

 plant ought to be hardy, because it is found in Nepal. But 

 Dr. Royle tells us {Illustrations, p. 258) that it is only found 

 at the lowest elevations and in the most southern latitudes of 

 the Himalaya. It is true that it sustains considerable cold in 

 winter in these places, but the rise and fall in temperature 

 are gradual, and better enable a plant to resist the climate. 



If the most northern stations for the Rhododendrons are 

 thus comparatively mild, how much more so must those be 

 to the southward, and how small the chance of acclimatizinir 

 R. nobile ; notwithstanding that Mrs. Walker assures us that 

 the shoots of the Rhododendron are shrivelled up in Ceylon, 

 as if they were scorched, in consequence of continued cold 

 mornings which blight every thing. 



This variety is rather more tender, and requires a much 

 warmer situation than the old R. arboreum. 



