272 ERICACEAE. 
RHODODENDRON. 
(Family Ericaceae). 
Shrubs or exceptionally arbo- 
rescent: evergreen ‘(in true rho- 
dendrons) or. deciduous (in rho- 
dora and most azaleas). Twigs 
slender or moderate, or stout in 
the larger species, terete: pith 
rather small, roundish, somewhat 
colored, continuous. Buds _ soli- 
tary and sessile but usually clus- 
\ tered above so that the branches 
a are often clustered from the end 
F of a season’s growth, the upper 
usually ovoid, larger and with 
half-a-dozen or more ciliate scales 
and the flower-bud usually much 
enlarged, but the lower success- 
ively smaller and with fewer ex- 
posed scales (of which the lateral 
or lowermost may be almost sup- 
pressed) and the lowermost mi- 
nute. Leaf-scars alternate, low, 
shield-shaped and often notched at top or the lowest linear: 
bundle-trace 1, round or crescent-shaped: stipule-scars lack- 
ing. Fruit often persistent, as oblong 5-valved capsules. (In- 
cludes Azalea and Rhodora). 
A number of the Ericaceae contain gludosides or other 
poisonous substances and are counted among the dangerous 
stock-poisons. In some cases persons have been made ill by 
eating the flesh of birds or other animals that have fed on 
these plants without themselves being injured. The honey 
of others is reputed to be poisonous, including Rhododendron, 
one species of which possesses a classic reputation. 
