2136 ERICACEAE. [ Rhododendron. 



with white or pale yellow flowers ; R. setosum, Don. Vern. Tsalu, Bhutia, a red- 

 flowered shrub of Sikkim which, with the last, gives a very strong and somewhat 

 unpleasant aromatic scent; and R. lepidotum, Wall. ; Brandis 282; Gamble 52. Vern. 

 Tsaluma, tsuma, Bhutia, with reddish flowers. R.formosum, Wall. ; Kurz ii. 94, 

 is a small shrub of the Khasia and Nattoung Hills, above 7,000 feet. R. moul- 

 meinense, Hook.; Kurz ii. 94, an evergreen tree of the hills of Martaban and 

 Tenasserim above 4,000 feet. R. Hodgsoni, Hook. f. ; Gamble 5, is a small tree of 

 Sikkim from the wood of which the Tibetan yak saddles are frequently made, and 

 whose leaves are used for plates and lining baskets. R. nivale, Hook, f., found at 

 17,500 to 18,000 feet altitude in the Sikkim Himalaya, is a small shrub which probably 

 attains the highest elevation of any known woody plant. 



The Indian rhododendrons are all characterised by even-grained 

 wood, soft or moderately hard ; by very fine and extremely fine pores, 

 more numerous in the spring wood ; and by fine, generally short medullary 

 rays. The wood is apt to warp, with the exception of that of R. argen* 

 teum and R. Falconeri t 



1. R. arboreum, Sm. ; Beddome t. 228 ; Brandis 281 ; Kurz ii. 93 ; 

 Gamble 51. R. puniceum, Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 409. Vern. Chhdn, 

 Hazara; Ardawal, Jhelum ; Manddl, Chenab; Chin, dru, Ravi; Bras, 

 broa, burans, burunsh, Beas to the Sarda River ; Brus, Kumaun ; Bhordns, 

 ffttrds t ghonds, taggu, lal gurds, Nep. ; Etok, Bhutia, Lepcha ; Billi, 

 poomaram, Nilgiris ; Ma-ratmal, Cingh. 



A small evergreen tree. Bark 1 inch thick, reddish brown, peeling 

 off in small flakes. Wood soft, reddish white or reddish brown, close 

 and even-grained, apt to warp and shrink. Annual rings marked by a 

 belt of slightly larger pores in the spring wood. Pores very small and 

 extremely small, uniformly distributed. Medullary rays fine and 

 moderately broad, short, visible on a radial section. 



Outer Himalaya from the Indus to Bhutan between 3,000 and 11,000 feet, hills of 

 Southern India and Ceylon, Karennee Hills in Burma. 



Growth slow : according to Brandis 14 rings per inch of radius ; our specimens give 

 12 rings for the North- West specimens, and 22 to 36 rings for those from Sikkim. 



Weight, 41 '4 Ibs. per cubic foot on an average of 5 specimens, the Sikkim ones 

 weighing 39, while the Simla specimens give 45 Ibs. The wood seasons very badly, and 

 is chiefly used for fuel and charcoal, but is also sometimes employed for building and 

 for making dishes, in Sikkim for " kukri " handles, boxes and other small articles, 

 and on the Nilgiris for gun-stocks and posts. The flowers are eaten and are made 

 into preserves ; they are commonly offered in temples. 



ibB. 

 H 3171. Dungagalli, Hazara, 7,000 feet ....;.... 



H 14. Simla, 7,000 feet 45 



H 73. Mashobra, Simla, 7,000 feet 45 



E 371. Senchul forest, Darjeeling, 7,500 feet . . . . . 39 



^ 2 3gg;}Tonglo,Daijeeling, 10,000 feet . ... . . .39 



The two last are the species JR. Campbellice, Hook. f. ; Gamble 51, distinguished 

 from R. arboreum, Sm., by the ferruginous tomentuin and cordate base of the leaf, 

 but probably only a variety. 



2, R. argenteum, Hook. f. ; Gamble 51. Vern. Kali gurds, 

 putting a, Ncp. ; Etok-amat, Lepcha. 



An evergreen tree. Bark reddish brown, peeling off in small scales. 

 Wood yellowish, with darker heartwood, shining, soft, close and even- 

 grfthied. Pores very small, somewhat more numerous in the spring wood. 



