RHODODENDRON 343 



For other arboreum crosses, see Noblcanuin, pidcherrimiim, and venusliDii. 

 SMITHII, with rich red flowers, is arboreum + ponticum ; and CUNNINGHA.MI 

 is arboreum -}- maximum. 



R. ARGYROPHYLLUM, Franchet. 



An evergreen shrub, from 6 to 20 ft. high, the quite young shoots clothed 

 with a loose, white scurf. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, tapered at the base, 

 pointed, 2-5- to 5 ins. long, \ to \\ ins. wide ; smooth and yellowish green 

 above, the"lower surface covered with a close white scurf; stalk ^ in. or less 

 long. Flowers in a lax truss of as many as ten. Corolla white, or blush- 

 tinted, spotted with pink on the upper side ; broadly funnel-shaped, i^ ins. 

 wide. Calyx small, with smooth triangular lobes ; stamens twelve or fourteen, 

 shorter than the corolla, white with down at the base, like the ovary ; style 

 quite smooth ; flower-stalks slender, up to i^ ins. long ; seed-vessel I in. long, 

 downy. 



Native of W. China and Thibet ; discovered by the Abbe David ; intro- 

 duced by Wilson in 1904. Very distinct in the pure white under-surface of 

 the young leaves. It is near R. hypoglaucum in leaf character, but that 

 species has a markedly glandular-downy flower-stalk and calyx. 



R. AUGUSTINII, Hemsley* 



(Flora and Sylva, vol. iii., p, 162 ; Bot. Mag., t. 8497.) 



An evergreen shrub, from 4 to 10 ft. high, of bushy habit ; shcots hairy the 

 first and second years ; scaly the first. Leaves oblong-lanceolate ; i^ to 4 ins. 

 long, \ to i in. wide ; tapering to a fine point ; tapered or rounded at the 

 base ; "upper surface dark green, minutely wrinkled, and covered with fine 

 down ; under-surface scaly, and with pale bristle-like hairs on the midrib ; 

 stalk up to j in. long, hairy like the midrib. Flowers produced in clusters 

 of three or four ; corolla 2% ins. across, broadly funnel-shaped, wavy at the 

 margins, varying in colour from white to pink, purplish pink, and bluish, with 

 yellow spots on the uppermost lobes ; stamens ten, reddish brown, hairy 

 near but not at the base ; flower-stalk i to f in. long, scaly like the ovary. 



Native of Hupeh, China ; discovered by Henry, whose Christian name it 

 bears. First introduced to France and cultivated by Mr Maurice de Vilmorin 

 at Les Barres. It is very variable in the shades of its flowers, some of which 

 are amongst the most pleasing in the genus. The line of hairs on the midrib 

 beneath is a good distinguishing character. 



R. AURICULATUM, Hems ley. 



An evergreen shrub or small tree, 10 to '30 ft. high in a wild state; 

 branchlets very thick and sturdy. Leaves very large, 6 to 13 ins. long, 

 2 to 5 ins. wide ; oblong, the apex rounded except for a short abrupt point, 

 the base with two well-marked lobes (or auricles) to which the specific name 

 refers ; upper surface dull dark green, hairy on the midrib when young, 

 becoming smooth \ lower surface clothed with rust-coloured hairs, ultimately 

 whitish brown ; stalk up to i| ins. long, stout, bristly. The leaf-blade is of 

 very leathery texture. Flowers 3 to 4 ins. deep, scarcely as wide at the 

 mouth, funnel-shaped ; pale rosy pink, six to eight in a truss ; flower-stalk 

 stout, i to i^ ins. long, glandular-hairy. Corolla seven-lobed, downy outside ; 

 stamens fourteen, smooth ; calyx small. Seed-pod i| ins. long, | in. wide. 



Discovered by Henry in W. Hupeh, China ; introduced in 1900 by Wilson, 

 who considers it one of the most distinct and beautiful of Chinese rhodo- 



