]Q2 AZALEA. AMCENA. 



The flowers are yellow in the species, but there are varieties of many other shades; 

 they are somewhat viscous or clammy, and are produced in heads at the extremities 

 of the shoots before the leaves appear. The A. viscosa and A. glauca from North 

 America develop their leaves and flowers together ; the blossoms of the former are 

 covered with glutinous hairs, and are generally white ; those of glauca are also 

 white. In the A. nudiflora, another American species, the flowers are red, and 

 destitute of the clamminess peculiar to the preceding ; they appear, however, before 

 the leaves. Of this species there are numerous varieties, of every shade of colour 

 except yellow and orange. The A. calendulacea, also from the "Western Hemisphere, 

 has several varieties of a fine orange colour, particularly those known as chryso- 

 lectra, grand/flora, and triumphans. The Belgian Florists have recently turned their 

 attention to these showy plants, and many new and striking varieties originated 

 by them are now obtainable through the trade, which are well worthy the attention 

 of amateurs of this class of plants ; they are best known as Belgian Azaleas. 



Nearly thirty years since a beautiful species, the A. sinensis, with a quasi- 

 evergreen habit and fine yellow flowers, was figured by Sweet, accompanied by the 

 statement that it was probably as hardy as the A. pontica ; whether this opinion 

 proved unfounded, or whether the suggestion was never put to the test, we do not 

 know, but one thing is certain, that the plant continues to be classed with the 

 greenhouse species ; this is, however, by no means conclusive as to its tenderness, 

 for we know that many plants have been kept for years in our greenhouses, of 

 whose hardiness there is now no doubt, and it is to be desired that this fine species 

 should be tried out-doors ; if hardy, it would be a very great acquisition to our 

 evergreens. 



To the botanical features of the Azaleas we have not sufficient space to allude on 

 the present occasion; the Heath- worts to which they belong, are easily distinguished 

 from nearly all other plants, by their anthers opening by pores at their tips, and not 

 by longitudinal fissures, as in most other Orders. 



The name of this genus is derived from amleos, dry ; not, we think, in allusion to 

 the localities where they are found, as is sometimes supposed, but rather to the dry, 

 naked, stick-like appearance of many of them, especially in winter, when denuded 

 of their leaves. So far from being natives of dry places, nearly all of them occur 

 in moist localities. 



It may be necessary to remark, that there are several old varieties of the A. 

 nudiflora and other deciduous species, of the same name as the present plant, but 

 the evergreen character of our illustration, as well as the form of the flowers, will 

 at once distinguish it from all others. 



