CHAP. VII.] RHODOREiE. 123 



more pointed, and the bracts more scale-like ; 

 and the leaves are smooth on both surfaces. 

 The seed-pods also differ: inihose of H, maximum 

 and the other American species, the valves are 

 smooth as shown at/* in ^^. 57 ; and in those 

 of R. ponticum, the valves are somewhat crin- 

 kled as shown in Ji^. 59. This 

 species, and all its hybrids and 

 varieties, are more tender than R. 

 maximum, R. cafawbiense, and all 

 the other American kinds and their 

 offspring. R. cataicbiense has the 

 flower of a darker colour on the 

 outside of the corolla than within, ^^«- ^^-s^^^ 

 and the upper segment is very famtly rhododendron 

 dotted. It hybridises freely with R, ponticum. 

 arhoreumy which R. maximum does not, and the 

 hybrids thus produced are hardier than those 

 raised from R. ponticum, though the latter are 

 by far the most numerous. 



Most of the species have purple or whitish 

 flowers, but some, such as R. chrysanthemum, 

 and R. anthopogon, have yellow flowers; R, 

 ferrugineum and R. hirsutum, have bright pink 

 or rose-coloured flowers ; and those of R. 

 arhoreum the Nepaul tree Rhododendron, are of 

 a rich scarlet. The commonest small kinds 

 are R. ferrugineum and R. hirsutum, both dwarf 

 shrubs and natives of the north of Europe, 



