RHODODENDRON 353 



showing its blossoms usually in January, sometimes even when snow is on the 

 ground. For this reason, aiihough its beauties are of a modest kind, it is well 

 worth growing in a small group, preferably in some spot sufficiently sheltered 

 to mitigate to some extent the harshness of wind and weather at the inclement 

 season when its blossoms appear. 



R. MUCRONULATUM, Turczaninow (Bot. Mag., t. 8304), is a close ally of 

 R. dauricum, native of Dahuria, N. China, Manchuria and Japan ; introduced 

 in 1907. It resembles R. dauricum in being deciduous and in producing its 

 flowers singly from terminal buds. They are pale rose-purple, about i^ ins. 

 across, and usually larger than in dauricum. The leaves also are larger, up 

 to 3 ins. long, thinner in texture, more tapering at the apex, often hairy above. 

 The two appear to be united by intermediate forms found wild, which has led 

 some authorities to consider this merely a variety of dauricum. 



R. DAVIDII, Franchet. 



An evergreen shrub, 4 to 12 ft. high, leaves and young shoots smooth, the 

 latter yellowish. Leaves oval-oblong, broadly wedge-shaped at the base, 

 terminated by a short, abrupt tip ; 3 to 6 ins. long, | to 2 ins. broad ; pale 

 green, net-veined beneath ; stalk \ to f in. long. Flowers produced ten or 

 more together in a raceme up to 6 ins. long ; corolla widely bell-shaped, if to 

 2 ins. across, seven-lobed, lilac-purple spotted with a deeper shade on the 

 upper side ; calyx, flower-stalk, style and ovary glandular ; stamens fourteen, 

 not downy. 



Native of W. China and Thibet ; discovered by the Abbe David, after 

 whom it is named ; introduced by Wilson for Messrs Veitch in 1904. An 

 ally of R. Fargesii distinct in the glandular style. 



R. DILATATUM, Miquel. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 7681 ; Azalea <3ilatatum O. Kuntze.") 



A deciduous shrub of rather thin habit, probably 4 to 6 ft. high ;" branches 

 almost or quite smooth. Leaves often in threes at the end of the twig, ovate 

 or somewhat diamond-shaped ; I to i\ ins. long, to i^- ins. wide ; smooth 

 on both surfaces, bright green above, pale and finely net-veined beneath ; 

 stalk to \ in. long. Flowers usually in pairs, 2 ins. or rather more across, 

 purple, unspotted ; corolla-lobes oblong, rounded at the apex, the three upper 

 ones erect, the lower ones pointing downwards and more deeply cut ; calyx 

 small, entire ; flower-stalk \ in. long, slightly hairy ; stamens five ; ovary 

 covered with glands, not hairy ; style smooth. 



Native of Japan ; introduced by Messrs Veitch in 1883. It is very 

 similar in general appearance, and in its unspotted flowers to R. rhombicum, 

 but from that species, as well as Mariesii and Albrechtii, it is at once recognised 

 by having .only five stamens. Out of flower it is distinguishable from 

 rhombicum by the smooth adult leaves. Blossoming in April, it is very 

 charming then. In my experience it is hardier and more amenable to cultiva- 

 tion than R. rhombicum. It can be increased by cuttings. 



R. DISCOLOR, Franchet. 



A shrub, 6 to 8 ft. high, of robust habit, free from down in all its parts ; 

 young shoots stout, yellowish. Leaves oblong or narrowly oval, 3 to 8 ins. 

 long, f to 2| ins. wide ; tapered about equally at both ends, sometimes heart- 

 shaped at the base, the apex with a short mucro ; upper surface deep green, 



