1925] WILSON, THE RHODODENDRONS OF EASTERN CHINA 161 



Lushan range appears to be the western limit of its distribution. The 



mountains have been deforested and are now covered with a dem 



growth of miscellaneous shrubs. Among these and especially alongside 

 torrents Fortune's Rhododendron luxuriates. 



Though grown and appreciated at Kew and in a few other gardens 

 in the south of England, R. Fortunei Lindl. does not appear to have been 

 a common plant in British gardens. In the Arnold Arboretum and else- 

 where in New England it is not hardy. The late Professor Isaac B. 

 Balfour was at one time sceptical of the true species being in cultivation 

 inclining to the belief that it has been lost and its name in gardens usurped 

 by plants of hybrid origin. I know the Kew plant very well and in this 

 herbarium are specimens collected from it so long ago as 1884 which 

 agree perfectly with specimens collected in China from wild plants. 

 I agree with Bean (in Rhodod. Soc. Notes, I. 187 [1918] ) that there are 

 really no reasons for doubting the genuineness of the plant growing at 

 Kew as R. Fortunei. 



In the hands of the hybridist R. Fortunei Lindl. lias proved a most 

 prolific and extremely valuable parent. The first hybrid appears to 

 have been X R. Luscombei which resulted from the crossing of R. Fortunei 

 and R. Thomsonii Hook. f. about 1880 by Mr. T. Luscombe of Coombe 

 Royal, Kingsbridge, Devon. Among the more recent hybrids is X R. 

 Loderi raised by Sir E. Loder at Leonardslee by crossing R. Fortunei 



iffi 



This hybrid has huge flowers pink 



passing to white each from 6 to 7 inches in diameter and by many is 

 considered to be the most magnificent hybrid Rhododendron ever raised. 

 The only R. Fortunei hybrid hardy in the Arnold Arboretum is one named 

 "Duke of York" raised by George Paul of Cheshunt which has been 

 growing here since January, 1915. 



For other named hybrids see Millais, Rhodod. 170 (1917). 



2. Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum Hayata in Jour. Coll. Sci. 

 Tokyo, xxv. art. 19, 154, t. 26 (Fl. Mont. Formos.) (1908).— Kanehira, 

 Formos. Trees, 319, fig. 12, 326 (1917).— Millais, Rhodod. 231 (1917). 



Rhododendron chrysanthum Matsumura & Hayata in Jour. Coll. Sci. Tokyo, 

 xxii. 218 (Enum. PL Formos.) (1900).— Not Pallas. 



Bush 0.3-3 m. tall, branches very numerous, shoots relatively stout, 

 clothed with gray or rufous floccose tomentum, glabrescent; bud-scales 

 persisting on shoots for 1-3 years. Leaves crowded, very numerous, 

 coriaceous, elliptic-oblong to oblanceolate-oblong or lanceolate, 2-8 cm., 

 usually 4-6 cm. long, 1.5-3.5 cm., usually 2-2.5 cm. wide, subacute, 

 apiculate, base abruptly rounded, rarely narrowed, when young densely 

 clothed with rufous or gray floccose tomentum, upper surface soon 

 glabrescent, lustrous green, reticulate, lower surface floccose-tomentose, 



glabrescent or glabrous when a few months old, midrib and secondary 

 veins impressed above, midrib prominent, glabrous or floccose below; 

 petiole stout, flattened, 0.5-1 cm. long, floccose or glabrous. Flowers 



