1916-17.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 181 



This striking species is one of two (the other Rh. 

 eritimum) within the Irroratum series in which the 

 leaves are truly oblong with a somewhat beaked apex. 

 It is also the only species in the series in which the 

 juvenile indumentum of the under side of the leaf persists, 

 forming here a thin veil over the reticulate venulose 

 surface. Another conspicuous character in which it is 

 alone in the Irroratum series is. its large discoid stigma. 

 The numerical symmetry of the flower seems to be variable. 

 In the specimen No. 9920 the corolla is 5-lobed and there 

 are 10 stamens. In No. 12,889 the corolla is 7-lobed and 

 there are 12 stamens. The majority of species in the 

 series are 5-lobed in the corolla and diplostemonous ; two 

 species {Rh. eritimuin and RJi. hylothreptum) have 7-lobed 

 corollas and are diplostemonous. RJi. anthosphaerum has 

 a 5-6-lobed corolla and 10-12 stamens. The numbers 

 counted in RJt. agastuni seem to suggest that one may 

 expect a 5-, 6- or 7-lobed corolla and 10-14 stamens. The 

 settlement of this question, which involves the diagnostic 

 value of numerical symmetry in the series, will, I hope, be 

 achieved by Mr. Forrest during the further exploration of 

 Yunnan, which he is undertaking. 



Rhododendron anthosphaerum, Diels in Notes R.B.G. Edin., 

 v(1912), 215.1 

 Shrub or small tree as much as 9 meters high. Branches 

 stout, those a year old blackish-grey densely clad with 



1 The description by Diels runs : — 



Rhododendron anthosphaerum, Diels. Frutex vel arbor 6-9 m. alta. 

 Folia petiolo glabro 1-5 cm. longo praerlita ; papyracea, supra glabra, 

 subtus rufescenli-pallidiora, oblanceolata, acuta, 8-13 cm. longa, 2'5-5*2 

 cm. lata, nervi subtus inconsjucui. Flores 10-15 dense congesti, 

 pedunculi 7-12 mm. longi, pubescentes. Calycis minuti lobi inconsjsicui 

 triangulares, glandulnsi, vix 1 mm. longi. Corolla intense rosea atro- 

 purpureo-maculiita, campanulata ; tubus 2-5-3'5 cm. longus 3'2~4 cm. 

 latus ; lobi rotundati 1 '5-2 cm. diamet. Stamina 10 l)asim versus minute 

 puberula, 3-3'5 cm. longa. Ovarium glabrescens, 5-8 mm. longum ; 

 stylus 3-3'5 cm. longus, praetcr basim puberulam glaber. 



" Shrub or tree of 20-30 ft. Flowers bright rose-magenta, with a few 

 markings of black-crimson. Open situations in ]iine forests on the ascent 

 to the Sungkwei pass from the Langkiung vallev. Lat. 26° 30' N. 

 Alt. 10,000-1 1,000 ft. April 1906.^' G. Forrest. No. 2042. 



Habit of R. irroratum, Frauch. but easily recognised by the colour of 

 the flowers and the more glabrous ovary and the absence of glands on 

 the stvle. 



