RHODODENDRON HIRSU'TUM. 



HAIRY-LEAVED RHODODENDRON. 

 Class. Order. 



DECANDRIA. MONOCYNIA. 



Natural Order. 



RHODORACEJK. 



No. 63. 



Rhododendron is deduced from two Greek words, 

 RODON, a rose, and DENDRON, a tree. The name 

 was first adopted by Dioscorides. Linneus's ap- 

 plication of it does not, however, appear to be con- 

 tinued to the same plants. Our Nerium is supposed 

 to have first borne the appellation. Hirsutum, from 

 the Latin, rough or hairy. 



Our present subject bears a strong affinity to the 

 Rhododendron ferrugineum, excepting that the un- 

 der side of its leaves are less rusty, and they are also 

 fringed with rigid hairs, which are not found on the 

 leaves of the Rhododendron ferrugineum. 



It is rather more free in growth than the last- 

 mentioned species, and generally possesses an ad- 

 vantage over it, in the abundance of its beautiful 

 blossoms. 



These plants are propagated, in Great Britain, 

 principally by layers ; as they rarely produce seeds 

 or suckers, except in their natural climate. The 

 usual time of laying them is the latter part of sum- 

 mer, and the heads only of the young shoots should 

 be left above the soil. Peat soil and a northerly 

 aspect will be found most suitable. 

 Hort. Kew. 2, v 3, 49. 



