PLATE XLVII. 



1. RHODODENDRON PONTICUM. 



PONTIC RHODODENDRON. 



THIS genus contains plants of the hardy, deciduous, and ever- 

 green, flowering, shrubby kinds, Dwarf Rose-bay. 



It belongs to the class and order Decandria Monogynia, and ranks 

 in the natural order of Bicornes. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a five-parted permanent pe- 

 rianth: the corolla one-petalled, wheel-funnel-form: border spread- 

 ing, with rounded segments: the stamina have ten filiform filaments, 

 almost the length of the corolla, declined. Anthers oval: the pis- 

 tillum is a five-cornered retuse germ. Styfe filiform, the length of 

 the corolla. Stigma obtuse: the pericarpium is an ovate capsule, 

 subangular, five-celled, divisible into five parts: the seeds numerous, 

 very small. 



The species are: 1. R. ferrugineum, Rusty-leaved Rhododendron; 

 2. R. hirsutum, Hairy Rhododendron; 3. R. chamcecistus, Dwarf Rho- 

 dodendron, or Rose-bay; 4. R. ponticum, Purple Rhododendron; 

 5. R. maximum, Broad-leaved Rhododendron. 



The first rises with a shrubby stalk near three feet high, sending 

 out manv ; rregular branches, covered with a purplish bark. The 

 leaves aie lanceolate, an inch and half long, and half an inch broad 

 in the middle, entire, with reflexed borders, lucid green on their 

 upper surface, and rusty-coloured underneath, placed all round the 

 branches without order. The flowers are produced in round bunches 

 at the ends of the branches: the corolla is funnel-shaped with a short 

 tube, and is cut into five obtuse segments at the brim, spreading a 

 little open, and of a pale rose colour. It is a native of Switzerland, 

 flowering from May to July. 



