22. 
RHODODENDRON EDGEW ORTHIL, svooe. 
Mr. Edgeworth’s Rhododendron. 
Tas. XXI. 
Frutex sepe epiphytus, ramulis petiolis pedunculis capsulis foliisque subtus dense ferruginco-villoso-tomentosis, foliis sublonge petiolatis 
clliptico-ovatis acutis vel acuminatis subcoriaccis rugoso-reticulatis basi obtusis supra nitidis marginibus recurvis, pedunculis 2-3 termi- 
nalibus v. ab innovationibus lateralibus, floribus speciosis albis, calycis ampli 5-partiti lobis foliaceis oblongo-obovatis ineequalibus 
lanuginosis ciliatis, corolle tubo breviusculo late campanulato, limbi maximi lobis rotundatis venosis crenato-undulatis, staminibus 10 
exsertis, filamentis inferne villosis, antheris elongatis, ovario dense tomentoso 5-loculari, stylo gracili_ basi lanuginoso, capsula 
oblongo-cylindracea recta obtusa valvis lignosis. 
Han. Sikkim-Himalaya ; in valleys of the inner ranges, usually pendulous from trees, sometimes on rocks; elevation 7,000-9,000 feet. 
Hl. May and June; fr. November. 
Asmall shrub, with straggling branches, often pendulous upon trees and rocks. Branches, the older ones covered with 
a dark ashy and slightly glaucous bark ; young ones and young leaves and bracts, peduncles, petioles, and the underside of 
the old leaves, densely clothed with a soft ferrugineo-fulvous tomentum, which is easily detached. Leaves two to four inches 
long, ovato-lanceolate, acute or more usually suddenly acuminate, obtuse at the base, the margin recurved, the upper 
surface fine glossy green, singularly rugose from the deeply impressed reticulated veins ; beneath, too, the principal veins 
are prominent and conspicuous. Petioles about three-quarters of an inch long. Peduncles terminal or axillary from 
innovations, usually two or three from the same point, about as long as the petioles. Flowers very large, showy, inclined. 
Calyx large, of five deep, membranaceous or foliaceous, obovate, spreading, unequal, coloured lobes, very downy on the back, 
the edges finely ciliated. Corolla white, often tinged with blush and pale yellow: the ¢wde rather short, widening much at 
the mouth, slightly curved, the Limd unusually large, more than four inches across, spreading, of five nearly equal, rounded, 
slightly emarginate lobes, crisped at the margin, delicately veined on the surface. Stamens ten, a good deal exserted beyond 
the mouth of the tube: Jilaments slender, a little dilated downwards, villous on the lower half: anthers very large, 
long in proportion to their breadth, Iinear-oblong, dark purple-brown. Ovary ovoid, six-furrowed, six-celled, densely 
woolly: style elongated, red, woolly below : stigma five- to six-lobed. Capsule more than an inch long, straight, 
oblong-cylindrical, obtuse, densely covered with ferruginous wool. Seeds pale-coloured. 
A truly superb species from the size of the flowers and their roseate tinge on a white ground, also on account of the 
variety of rich colour in the leaves, bracteas, stipules, calyx, &., while the very wrinkled surface of the leaf adds much to its 
beauty. In its floccose character and foliaceous calyx it resembles 2. pendulum; but in the size and shape of the flowers 
it approaches 22. Dalhousie, next to which I would place it. 
The majority of my specimens were obtained from the land-shoots, or -slips, in the rocky ravines, which bring down 
in their course those Pines on the limbs of which this species delights to grow. 
I dedicate this Rhododendron to my accomplished and excellent friend, M. P. Edgeworth, Esq., of the Bengal Civil 
Service, now Commissioner of Mooltan, who has long and successfully studied the Botany of Western Himalaya, and of 
North-western India generally. 
Tas. XXI. Rhododendron Fdgeworthii. Vig. 1. Stamen. 2. Calyx and pistil. 3. Transverse section of ovary :—magnified. 4, Pistil with 
its persistent calyx :—natural size. 
