383 



I^hododendron calophytum, Franchet. 



One of the most interesting things respecting some of the newly 

 discovered rhododendrons of Western China is that they have made 

 available to planters situated in the average climate of the British 

 Isles several tree-like types, rivalling in stature and nohleness of 

 foliage, those North Indian species, only hardy in our mildest 

 counties. Most notable, perhaps, in this respect is R. calophytum^ 

 which Wilscn found 50.ft. high in the forests of Western Szechuen, 

 and of larger size than any other species* native of that region. 

 The largest leaves on adult trees are about 13 in. long and 3 in. 

 wide, obovate to oblanceolate, acute at the apex, narrowly cuneate 

 at the base; they soon become quite glabrous. Flowers in loose 

 trus&es, the corolla seven- or eight-lobed, campanulate, 2 in. wide, 

 of some shade of pink. Wilson remarks that the scarlet pedicels 

 add much to the beauty of the inflorescence. The stamens are 

 glabrous, shorter than the corolla, sixteen or more in number. 



Originally discovered by the Abbe David in Thibet, this species 

 was first introduced to the Coombe Wood nursery in 1904, It is 

 apparently very hardy at Kew. 



Rhododendron Davidii^ Franchet. 



This species belongs to the fine group of rhododendrons whose 

 leaves are quite g]abrous and the corolla seven- to nine-lobed. This 

 group includes R. discolor^ Fargesiiy decoTurriy Fortuneiy rotundi- 

 foliuTriy and others. R. Davidii was discovered by the Abbe David, 

 after whom it was named, about 1885, and was introduced by Mr. 

 E. H. Wilson to the Coombe Wood nursery in 1904. It is a bush 

 eventually becoming 12 ft. high, its young shoots quite glabrous. 

 Leaves oval-oblong, rounded to broadly cuneate at the base, 

 mucronat^, 3 to 6 in. long, | to 2 in. wide, dull yellowish green 

 above, rather glaucous beneath. Flowers' borne ten or rfifore 

 together in a terminal raceme as much as 6 in. in length. Corolla 

 campanulate, about 2 in. wide, seven-lobed, pale purple spotted on 

 the upper side. The calyx has rounded, ciliate-glandular lobes; 

 stamens fourteen, with glabrous ^laments; ovary glandular; 

 pedicels more or less glandular. 



R, Davidii has flowered at Kew several times during the last two 

 or three years, usually in April. In its group it is distinct in the 

 elongated common-stalk of the inflorescence. 



Rhododendron discolor, Franchet. 



For a long time the only true evergreen rhododendron (as 

 distinct from Azalea) known m China was R. Fortunei, introduced 

 by Fortune in 1859. Later discoveries' made farther west have 

 shown that this species may be regarded as the type of a well- 

 marked group with large, smooth leaves, a six- or seven-lobed 

 corolla, and Welve to sixteen stamens. To this group i?. discolor 

 belongs. It ia' a vigorous plant and was found by Wilson in 

 Western Hupeh, sometimes 20 feet high. Its oblong leaves are 8 in, 

 long and 2| in. wide (considerably larger on young unflowered 

 seedlings); petiole purple, stout, up to 1^ in. long. From the 

 leaves of R. Fortunei they are well distinguished by having a 

 cuneate instead of cordate base. Tlie flowers have not yet appeared 



