SWISS FLO WEBS. 79 



inches high, bears, and by a certain angular look about 

 it. The style is nearly straight, green, with a broad 

 five-lobed summit. The flower opens wide, and the pro- 

 truding anthers lie in pairs on each petal. The leaves are 

 roundish, or oblong, serrate, and rather thick. The flower 

 has a sweet odour. The whole family dries especially badly. 

 Alpine woods, St. Cergues (Jura), Pilatus, Maderaner Thai, 

 Sembrancher in the woods of Mont Catogne, Zermatt, 

 Gemmij Lanslebourg, Engadine, &c. 



61. Rhododendrum. 



{PLATE XXXV.) 



Of all flowers, this (Fig. 61) is particularly the one which 

 characterizes Switzerland. The mountain-guide eagerly 

 points to its earliest blossom, and proudly places it in his 

 hat, if he does not bestow it on the foreign lady whose 

 horse, or whose mule, he is leading. Its presence always 

 tells of a considerable height gained, and, on this account 

 alone, it is welcome, did not its bright pink blossoms adorn 

 many a mountain -range where even the fearless climber 

 dare not venture. Its common name, Rose des Alpes, or 

 Alpen-Rosen, must be given to it from its pink colour, for in 

 no other respect does it resemble a rose ; indeed, it is imme- 

 diately known from its likeness to our cultivated rhododen- 



