21. 
RHODODENDRON SETOSUM, 2m. 
Bristly Rhododendron. 
Tas. XX. 
Fruticulus humilis ramosissimus, ramulis setosis foliis utrinque pedunculis calycibusque creberrime lepidotis, foliis parvis brevissime petiolatis 
(petiolo setoso) ellipticis subovatisve marginibus subrecurvis ciliatis lete viridibus subtus glaucis v. pallide ferrugineis, pedunculis 3-5 
terminalibus brevibus, calycis lobis subfoliaceis ovalibus obtusis coloratis, corolle purpureo-rosee tubo brevissimo lobis 5 oblongis 
obtusis integris patentibus, staminibus 8-10 exsertis, filamentis basim versus barbatis, ovario brevi lepidoto, stylo superne incrassato 
capsula calyeem persistentem «equante brevi crassa lepidota 5-loculari. 
Ruopopenpron setosum, Don, Wern. Trans. vol. iii. p. 408. Prodr. Fl. Nep. p. 152. De Cand. Prodr. vol. vii. p. 784. 
Has. Gossain-Than. Hamilton, Wallich in Herb. nostr. Sikkim-Himalaya ; open stony and rocky places, abundant; elev. 13-16,000 feet. 
Ft. Sune, Tuly ; fr. October. 
Stems from a span to a foot high, much and repeatedly branched, dranches sometimes verticillate, covered with a 
papery bark, the youngest ones setose and very lepidote, which last character extends to both sides of the leaves, peduncles, 
calyx, and ovary. Leaves small, copious towards the ends of the branches, one-third to half an inch long, elliptical or obovate, 
coriaceous, very obtuse, dark green above, pale and glaucous beneath, setose on the recurved margin ; petiole short, setose. 
Peduncles half an inch to one inch long, three to five from the ends of the numerous branches, very lepidote, erect. 
Flowers inclined. — Calye coloured, red, large for the size of the corolla, deeply cut into five oval very obtuse foliaceous 
lobes, very squamulose at the back and edge, nearly naked towards the margin. Corolla bright red-rose colour, an inch 
and a half across, five-partite, the tube very short: the /obes spreading, oblong, waved, and sinuated at the margin. 
Stamens eight to ten, much exserted : filaments slender, with a dense tuft of hairs above the base ; anthers oblong. Ovary 
ovate, obtuse, very squamulose, five-celled. Style long, ascending, thickened upwards : stigma a depressed disc, bearing five 
prominent ports or lobes. Capsule a quarter of an inch long, subglobose, densely lepidote, enclosed by the persistent calyx. 
A small and elegant shrub, with a good deal the aspect of Rkodora, especially in the flowers, but these are more 
copious and brighter coloured, and the foliage is Box-like and evergreen. It is the “ Zsallu”” of the Sikkim-Bhoteas and 
Thibetians, who attribute the oppression and headaches attending the crossing of the loftiest passes of Eastern Himalaya, 
to the strongly resinous odour of this and of the 2hododendron anthopogon, Wall. (* Palu” of the natives). The species 
certainly abounds to within a few miles of the summits of all the passes, and, after hot sunshine, fills the atmosphere with 
its powerful aroma, too heavy by far to be agreeable; and it is indecd a sad aggravation to the discomforts of toiling in the 
rarified medium it inhabits. Covering, as it does, extensive moorland tracts and rocky slopes, the brilliant red purple of 
its flowers renders it a charming and most lovely object. In its late flowering (June and July) and carly fruiting (October) 
it is eminently typical of the briefer and more distinctly circumscribed summer of those elevated regions :—and no less so 
are its powerfully strong odour and copious resinous secretions of a drier climate than any, except a very few of its congeners, 
enjoy. The hand, on being passed over the foliage and branches, is imbued with the clammy exudation, and which long 
retains the scent. An useful volatile oil, of no less marked character than that of the American Gaultheria* (now in 
great demand by the perfumers) would probably be yielded by distillation of the foliage. 
* Gaultheria procumbens, which yields the “ Oil of Wintergreen,” used by perfumers and by druggists to flavour syrups. 
Tas, XX. Rhododendron setosum. Fig. 1. Stamen. 2. Calyx and pistil. 3. Transverse section of ovary. 4, Upper, and 5, underside of a 
leaf, with a portion of the branch. 6. Scales from the leaf :—ad/ more or less magnified. 
