84 A NOTICE OF SOME SPECIES OF 



In his Sarawak we find it mentioned in the following para- 

 graph : — 



" The still river, winding its way amidst the limestone, which 

 is shaded with overhanging trees, is nevertheless very pretty ; 

 and the hill opposite to wliich we now lie rises in a precipice 200 

 feet above our heads, its face being covered with climbing plants, 

 and the projections of the rocks covered with ferns and other 

 plants, among which I observed the bright flowers of the beau- 

 tiful and new yellow Rhododendron Brookeanum, and tlie ele- 

 gant fern-like foliage of a large-leafed, stemless palm." — p. 374. 



This species is allied to Rhododendron ^avanicuni, from which 

 it differs in having much larger flowers, and nearly sessile, not 

 long-stalked, leaves, the under side of which is entirely destitute 

 of the rusty specks which characterise the Java plant. Coloured 

 drawings of two varieties are before me, — one yellow, the other 

 rich red. 



The Yelloiv is represented with 14 flowers in a loose cluster, of 

 a rich buff colour, and two inches across the limb. The colour, 

 however, is stated by Mr. Low to be incorrect, and it is pro- 

 bably much too dull. The annexed cut represents this variety 

 diminished. 



The Red has larger leaves, and only five flowers in a cluster, 

 in colour resembling the Azalea i?idica lateritia, but richer. 

 They are more than three inches across the limb. 



Of the former of these dried specimens have been preserved, 

 from which and the drawing together the figure has been pre- 

 pared. 



II. — Rhododendron gracile. Lotv. 



Sp. Char. Leaves lanceolate, very long, drooping, tapering 

 sharply to each end, quite smooth, but indistinctly marked on 

 the under side with dark freckles. Peduncles smooth, much 

 shorter than the flowers. Calyx obsolete. Corolla funnel- 

 shaped, with a tube much longer than the irregular limb, whose 

 lobes are flat, very blunt, and imbricated. Stamens exserted ; 

 anthers erect. 



" This slender and beautiful Rhododendron," says Mr. Low, 

 " is found on rocks at the ' Sirul ' mouth of the Sarawak River. 

 It is confined to a space of ground not extending over 200 yards 

 square, and was never seen in any other place. It grows luxu- 

 riantly upon the sandstone rocks, wliich are covered with moss 

 and decaying leaves to the height of from 4 to 6 feet. The 

 seeds have tails, and, with the exception of its place of growth, 

 it resembles the other Bornean species. It flowers all the year 

 round," 



