354 RHODODENDRON 



iower one pale ; stalk ^ to i j ins. long, stout, purple. Flowers white OT 

 faintly blush-tinted ; corolla funnel-shaped, 2^ to 3 ins. long and wide, six- 

 or seven-lobed. Stamens twelve to sixteen, not downy, shorter than the 

 corolla ; ovary and style glandular ; calyx small, glandular on the margins at 

 first ; seed-vessel i| ins. long, -| in. thick. 



Native of W. and Centraf China ; introduced by Wilson in 1900. It 

 belongs to the same group as R. Fortunei, which has its leaves almost 

 uniformly heart-shaped at the base, and the calyx is not glandular, as in 

 R. discolor. The foliage of young bushes is of greater size than stated above. 

 The species starts into growth very late and does not flower until July. 



R. FALCONERI, Hooker fil. 



A large shrub or a small tree, ultimately over 30 ft. high, with stiff, very 

 thick, somewhat sparse branches, woolly when young. Leaves oval or oblong, 

 6 to 12 ins. long, 2-| to 6 ins. wide (sometimes larger) ; very stout, thick, and 

 strongly veined ; the upper surface dark green, curiously wrinkled, but 

 otherwise smooth ; the lower surface covered with a dense, rust-coloured felt ; 

 stalk i to 2 ins. long. Flowers about 2 ins. across, creamy white, shaded with 

 lilac and marked with a conspicuous dark purple blotch at the base, fragrant, pro- 

 duced in spring in large terminal clusters 6 to 9 ins. across ; the flowers 

 tightly packed. Corolla bell-shaped, 2 ins. long, its lobes varying in number 

 from eight to ten ; calyx scarcely observable ; stamens twelve to sixteen, 

 shorter than the corolla ; style about as long as the corolla, stout, and 

 surmounted by the large knob-like stigma ; flower-stalk downy, i in. long. 



Native of the Himalaya ; introduced about 1850. A rhododendron nearly 

 or quite identical has latterly been found in China. This is one of the 

 noblest of all the genus, but not very hardy. After many trials it has been 

 given up at Kew as hopeless, .the plants lingering for years, but always in 

 a miserable condition. Yet in the Duchess's garden at Belvoir Castle there 

 is a specimen about 16 ft. high now in perfect health, although it suffered 

 in" the great frost of February 1895. But this garden is elevated, and is in 

 the form of an amphitheatre facing south, a very favourable position com- 

 pared with low-lying, flat country. In the south coast gardens, in Ireland 

 and in Cornwall it is perfectly at home. 



Var. EXIMIUM has pink flowers and reddish down on both surfaces of 

 the leaves a fine variety. 



There is a hybrid between Falconeri and niveum to be found in several 

 gardens in the south and west of England. 



R. FARGESII, Franchet. 



An evergreen shrub, 10 ft. high, of bushy habit ; leaves oblong-ovate, 

 rounded at the apex, slightly cordate at the base, 2 to 3^ ins. long, \\ to 2^ 

 ins. wide, dull grey-green above, pale and rather glaucous beneath, smooth 

 at maturity on both surfaces ; stalk i to i ins. long. Flowers in a terminal 

 truss of six to eight. Corolla widely funnel-shaped, seven-lobed, 2 ins. deep, 2| 

 ins. wide, pale rose or purplish pink, often with deeper spots on the upper side. 

 Calyx shallowly seven-lobed, glandular-downy like the flower-stalk ; stamens 

 twelve or fourteen, glabrous, about half as long as the corolla, white with 

 brown anthers ; style longer than stamens, glabrous ; ovary glandular. 



Native of E. Szechuen, China, where it was discovered by Pere Farges ; 

 introduced by Wilson in 1901. It flowers in late April, and is allied to R. 

 rotundifolium (orbiculare), but is well distinguished by the oblong leaves and 

 shorter, glandular flower-stalks. 



