200 JOURNAL OF THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM [vol. vi 



striking examples could be cited and the list extended indefinitely. Most 

 of these belong to well recognized species, the validity of which no one 

 has yet ventured to question or to segregate on purely geographical 

 grounds. It is precisely such cases as these referred to here that have the 

 greatest value and significance in throwing light upon certain problems 

 of distribution of species in our existing forest floras and of their former 

 fluctuations; and it is partly because of my interest in these cases that I 

 am not willing to have the testimony of so important a witness as Quercus 

 arkansana impeached or to see the bar sinister placed upon its escutcheon, 

 since none of the facts seem to warrant such action. 



In this connection there may be mentioned another Oak which was 



W 



Q 



Q 



to for the reason that I am not yet satisfied, after an examination of 

 co-type specimens, that it can safely be identified with the Arkansas 

 Oak. However, without wishing to essay the hazardous role of prophet, 

 I will venture to suggest that it is not improbable, as botanical exploration 

 continues, that other isolated stations may yet be found for Quercus 

 arkansana; and investigators of Quaternary deposits containing Oak 

 remains should be on the lookout for it; for from all the evidence I am of 

 the opinion that we are here dealing neither with a hybrid nor a recently 

 evolved form, but on the contrary with an ancient species, probably 

 once widely distributed over the Coastal Plain and now nearing extinction. 



RHODODENDRON ( HRYSOCALYX LEV. & VANIOT 



Ernest H. Wilson. 

 Rhododendron chrysocalyx Leveille & Vaniot apud Leveille in Fedde 



Rep. Spec. Nov. n. 113 (1906). 



A much-branched twiggy shrub, the branchlets tortuous, clothed with 

 appressed flattened red-brown strigose hairs. Leaves persistent, char- 

 taceous, dimorphic, narrow-lanceolate to oblanceolate, 1.5-4 cm. long, 

 0.5-1 cm. wide, acute or obtuse, mucronulate, base narrow cuncate, margin 

 revolute, crenate-serrate, ciliate, upper surface shining dark green, reticu- 

 late, secondary veins impressed, lower surface pallid with primary and 

 secondary veins elevated, both surfaces witli few scattered appressed 

 shining brown flattened strigose hairs most plentiful on costa; petiole 

 flattened, 0.3-0.5 cm. long, densely clothed with appressed red-brown 

 strigose hairs. Flowers terminal, fascicled, 10-12 or more; fascicles 2-3- 

 flowered, subtended by several semipersistent concave dull brown ciliolate 

 acute glabrescent bud-scales; pedicel erect, 1-1.5 cm. long, with calyx and 

 ovary densely clothed with shining red-brown flattened strigose hairs; 

 calyx annular, obscurely toothed, ciliate; corolla rotate-funnelform; tube 



