70 CLIMATE AND VEGETATION OF 



tions in the strength of the stem, colour, texture, and hairiness of 

 the leaf, are regarded as certainly indicating specific differences ; 

 whilst other kinds are considered as the same, because un- 

 distinguishable in their present infant condition. Some of the 

 latter certainly resemble one another in foliage, even when 

 full grown, but are nevertheless totally distinct in flower and in 

 fruit. I may instance R. cinnabarinum, R. camelliajtorum, 

 and R. 3Iaddeni, as one case in point ; R. campylocarjrum and 

 R. Thomsoni as another ; R. campamdatum and R. fulgens as 

 a third instance of species being often so alike in the leaf, as 

 generally to puzzle me when I had nothing else to judge by ; 

 and yet there is in the two former cases little affinity between 

 them. My attention was drawn to this point throughout a resi- 

 dence of many consecutive months (including the flowering and 

 .fruiting seasons of the Rhododendron) at elevations varying from 

 8000 to 16,000 feet. It is especially between 10,000 and 

 14,000 feet that the genus prevails ; several species comprising 

 three-quarters of the bulk of the vegetation above the forest- 

 region (12,000 feet). There Rhododendron wood supplies the 

 native with fuel, and, from its tough nature and property of being 

 easily worked, witii many domestic vitensils, poles for his tent, 

 stools, saddle, bowl and spoon ; the bark is used as that of the 

 birch is in arctic regions, and the leaves serve as plates and 

 wrappers for butter, curd, and cheese. It is the traveller's con- 

 stant companion throughout every day's march ; on tlie right 

 hand and on the left of the devious paths, the old trees and 

 bushes are seen breast high or branching over head, whilst the 

 seedlings cover every mossy bank. At 13,000 feet the flanks of 

 the snowy mountains glow .with the blood-red blossoms of R. 

 fulgens, whilst the beauty of R. campanulatum and the great 

 elegance and delicacy of the white bells of R. camjjylocarpum 

 excite the more admiration from their being found in such regions 

 of fog and rain. Yet with all these advantages of position, and 

 that of an intimate knowledge of the species, I was constantly at 

 a loss to distinguish to which species the seedling plants belonged, 

 especially when they grew intermixed, or to recognize others 

 when distant from their parents. 



Is ot only does the very variable nature of the foliage render it 

 exceedingly difficult to recognize even the best known kinds 

 by tliese organs, but the species themselves run into races, 

 stirpes, or constant varieties, assuming under certain circum- 

 stances characters inherited by the seedlings. This is habitually 

 the case with those that have considerable ranges in elevation ; 

 they alter their habit materially (as willows do in our own 

 country), and there is more apparent difference between the 

 robust, hardy, rusty-leaved, dark-coloured seedlings from an 



