82 



IRISH (JAU1)I':nino 



wit)] yclluw spots on tlic ii|i|ifi- lolx-s. ami wavcil 

 edges, is j)artieiilail\ dcsiialtlc. 



H. CHARTOl'HYLl.l M. All »,'\ fliilVCIl s|K-(ifS 



allied to R. yiinnaneiisc, hut llowcrs earlier, lias 

 rather larger leaves, and the hahit of tin- hushes 

 is more ereet . The llowcis are hmiie in chisteis 

 at tlie ends of the shoots, white willi a la\ciidei- 

 tint spotted with ri'dilish liiowii. 1.1 iiulies in 

 diainetei-. Intinduced to l-'ranre li\ the I'^reiieli 

 missionaries. 



R. c-ONClNNrM. This has e\eiur»"i-n lea\ ^^ up 

 to 2 inehes long and forms a hush of moderate 

 size. ])r()dueing trusses of purple or lavender 

 purple flowers in May. These are ahout 2 inehes 

 aeross in terminal trus.ses of three or four hlooms. 

 We owe its introduetion to Mr. K. H. Wilson. 

 who Hr.st sent seeds home to .Messrs. \'eiteli in 



R. Davidii. — This evergreen species is in the 

 way of R. Fortunei, but has rather smaller 

 leaves and flowers. It has the seven-lobed 

 flower. IxdI-shaped, some 2 inelies across, lilac- 

 ]Mnk in colour. The leaves are 4 inches to (i 

 inehes long and one-third as wide. A Western 

 C'liinese species, the plant is named in compli- 

 ment to its discoverer, Ahhe David. Our 

 plants were raised from seeds collected in 1904 

 by Mr. E. H. Wilson. 



R. DECORUM. — A form or ally of R. Fortunei 

 several collectors have introduced from Western 

 China. Even when not in flower, the sturdy 

 plants are attractive evergreen bushes with 

 stout light green foliage. It has the fragrant, 

 seven-lobed blooms, some 21 inches across, 

 delicate blush-pink or white in colour. Good- 

 natured in growth, R. decorum may prove 

 quite as useful to the hybridist as R. Fortunei 

 has done. 



R. DISCOLOR. — Still another of the R. Fortunei 

 breed, our plants are readily distinguished from 

 other Chinese species by their large leaves and 

 starting into growth later. 



R. Davidsonianum. — This is an evergreen 

 species closely allied to R. chartophyllum, but 

 differs from it in having narrower leaves, longer 

 pedicels, and generally larger flowers. It is in 

 full beauty towards the end of April or early 

 in May, the flowers being so numerous on some 

 of the plants as to hide most of the foliage. 

 These are white or pale blush, with crimson 

 markings, and about li inches in diameter. 

 For its introduction we are indebted to Mr. 

 Wilson. 



R. DISCOLOR. — Tliis is a beautiful evergreen 

 bush, with large stout leaves, 6 inches to 8 

 inches long, and blush-tinted or white flow^ers, 

 funnel-shaped, 2 inches to 3 inches A\ide. Allied 



to i;. Korliuiei. it starts into growth later than 

 that species, l)ut is distinguished by narrower 

 l<'a\(s and larger eal\x IoIk-s. The iiit I'odueer. 

 .Mr. K. H. Wilson. des,ril.e- I!, discolor as a 

 (■(ininuin species in Western H n|)ch. 



I!. !•' A K(; i;sii. .\n e\ ciui-ecn s|tecies with 

 Icatlieiy (.l)l(.n-:()\ at c leaves of moderate size 

 and i'os\ pink oi' pale i( ise lilussonis eloseK 

 anangeii ni a tcinima! head of about lialf-a 

 do/.eii funnel-shaped tiowcis. (>|)ening outside 

 fi-oni tlie middle of April onwards. Slieltcr from 

 t he morning sun is desii'al)le. 



W. iASTn;i.\Tr.M. This dainl.N alpine Kliodo 

 dendron. intiodueed by .Mr. Foiri-st, is allied to 

 and forms a fitting companion to R. intricatum, 

 eolleeted by Mr. K. H. Wilson. The latter 

 llowcrs in eai'ly A|)iil. while the flowers of |{. 

 fastigiatuni open towards the end ol tliat 

 month or early in May. Growing inches to 

 1 foot high, or perhaps more with age, it has 

 small evergreen leaves, averaging half an inch 

 long, and dainty pale pur])le or reddish ])urple 

 flowers an inch across. A gem for the rock 

 garden, R. fastigiatuni is botanically ea.sy to 

 distinguish from R. intricatum, having pnjtrud- 

 ing stamens. 



R. FLAVIDUM. — Another dwarf evergreen rock 

 garden species, particularly interesting because 

 it has yellow flowers which are 1 inch across, 

 borne in small clusters at the ends of the shoots 

 during April. Introduced by Mr. Wilson from 

 Western Szechuen when collecting for Messrs. 

 Veitch ; it has also been named R. primulinum. 



R. Hanceanum. — This at present with us is 

 a dwarf evergreen shrub, the appearance suggest- 

 ing a position in the rock garden. As, however, 

 Mr. Wilson records it as a large bush up to 10 feet 

 high in China. R. Hanceanum shovdd prove a 

 useful addition to the pleasure grounds and 

 woodland walks. The creamy white or pale 

 yellow flowers open during May, and are borne 

 in small terminal clusters, the individual flowers 

 being about 1 inch across. 



R. intricatum. — This dainty and distinct 

 Rhododendron is one of Mr. Wilson's best 

 introductions from China. Quite different when 

 it first flowered from any other species, the 

 dwarf evergreen pygmy-like bushes do not 

 appear likely to much exceed 1 foot in height. 

 The effect when the little bushes are covered 

 during A])ril with'quantities of dainty lilac-mauve 

 or pale ]Hiri)le flowers can better be imagined 

 than described. Found at an elevation of over 

 10,000 feet in Western China, R. intricatum is 

 quite hardy, but flowering early in the season a 

 south-west or west aspect is desirable to provide 

 some shelter for the blossoms from spring frosts. 



