336 RHAMNUS RHODODENDRON 



three to five each side the midrib, converging towards the point ; stalk j to 

 | in. long. .Fruit black, on a stalk up to ^ in. long. 



Native of S.E. Europe, Persia, etc. f introduced in 1880; distinct in its 

 long, narrow, downy leaves, but of no particular merit. 



R. TINCTORIA, Waldstein. DYER'S BUCKTHORN. 



This species belongs to the same group as R. infectorius and R. saxatilis, 

 and is a deciduous shrub up to 4 or 6 ft. high, the side branchlets spine- 

 tipped. It is distinguished from both its allies by the very hairy leaf-stalk. 

 The largest leaves are 2 ins. long by I in. wide, the smallest \ in. long ; oval, 

 more or less downy beneath, and with usually three, sometimes four pairs of 

 veins converging towards the apex. Fruit black, top-shaped. 



Native of S.E. Europe ; introduced in 1820, but of little garden value. 



RHAPHITHAMNUS CYANOCARPUS, Miers. VERBENACE^. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 6849 ; Citharexylon cyanocarpum, Hooker.'} 



An evergreen shrub or small tree, ultimately 20 or 25 ft. high, with 

 a dense growth and very leafy branches; young shoots covered with 

 erect, bristly down, and armed with axillary spines, which on the year-old 

 branches become \ to i in. long, slender and needle-like. Leaves 

 opposite, often in threes, set about J in. apart ; \ to f in. long, \ to J in. 

 wide; broadly ovate, pointed, rounded at the base; dark green and 

 smooth above, pale beneath, with at first minute bristles especially on the 

 midrib, also on the very short stalk. Flowers pale blue, produced in 

 April singly or in pairs in the leaf-axils of the previous summer's growth, 

 each on a very short, bristly stalk. Corolla slender, tubular, \ in. long ; 

 calyx bell-shaped, ^ in. long, toothed ; stamens four, included within the 

 corolla. Berry i to \ in. diameter, globose, bright blue. 



Native of Chile; introduced by W. Lobb about 1843. It is only 

 hardy at Kew against a wall, and one must go to Ireland or the south- 

 west to see it at its best. I remember seeing a fine specimen at 

 Menabilly, in Cornwall, several years ago, which I believe is now over 

 20 ft. high, growing in deep loamy soil. Its blue fruits are even more 

 ornamental than its flowers. 



RHODODENDRON (including AZALEA). ERICACEAE. 



No genus of hardy shrubs, unless it be Rosa, has given to gardens 

 such varied attractions as Rhododendron. In the now generally accepted 

 signification of the word, it includes what were formerly known as Azalea. 

 The true rhododendrons had ten stamens or more to each flower, and 

 were evergreen, whilst the azaleas had five stamens, and were mostly 

 deciduous, but there are numerous species in which these characters are 

 mixed. The former section undoubtedly includes a larger number of 

 beautiful types of evergreen shrubs than any other genus; and to the 



