RHODODENDRON 369 



differs from R. molle in the following particulars : The branchlcts and nnder- 

 surface of the leaves are somewhat less hairy than in R. molle, but are, in 

 addition, covered with a dense felt of soft down ; the lobes of the corolla are 

 shorter, fuller, and more rounded ; and the calyx-lobes are more rounded, 

 shorter (scarcely half the length of the ovary), and not so conspicuously hairy. 

 It appears to be exclusively Chinese, and perhaps less hardy. 



Between R. molle and R. sinense a series of intermediate, probably 

 hybrid, forms have become popular in cultivation, especially for forcing. 

 One of the most notable of these is the variety "Anthony Koster," with 

 brilliant yellow blossom 



R. MOUPINENSE, Franchet. 



A dwarf evergreen shrub 2 to 3 ft. high; young shoots hairy, much of the 

 hairiness disappearing by autumn. Leaves leathery, obovate or oval, rounded 

 or slightly heart-shaped at the base, usually rounded and with a short mucro 

 at the apex; | to ii ins. long, about half as wide; dark, slightly glossy green, 

 and smooth except for some minute down on the midrib above; pale and 

 covered with minute scales beneath; margins ciliate at first towards the base; 

 leaf-stalk |- to \ in. long, furnished with dark hairs Flowers fragrant, white 

 with purple spots, 2 ins. across, opening in March ; corolla shortly tubular 

 and downy at the base, expanding upwards into five rounded lobes. Stamens 

 ten, shorter than the corolla, and like the style, downy at the base. Calyx 

 with shallow, rounded, ciliate lobes. Seed-vessel f in. long, \ in. wide. 

 Flowers usually about three in a cluster. 



Native of Thibet and W. China; introduced by Wilson in 1909. It is 

 described as growing in the forks of trees. Young plants in cultivation appear 

 to be quite hardy and thriving. It promises to be useful for the rock garden. 



R. NIVEUM, Hooker fit. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 4730.) 



An evergreen shrub of sturdy habit, up to 6 or 8 ft. high in the open air ; 

 young shoots clothed with a whitish felt. Leaves narrowly-oblong, 3 to 7 ins. 

 long, i to i\ ins. wide ; tapering at the base, more rounded at the apex. 

 When the young leaves unfold they are covered all over with a snow-white 

 floss, which falls away from the upper surface, leaving it very deep green, but 

 which remains beneath and turns a pale brown. Flowers purplish lilac, 

 i to \\ ins. across, densely packed in a compact, rounded head, 3 to 4 ins. 

 across. Corolla bell-shaped ; lobes five, rounded, notched ; calyx simply an 

 expanded end to the short, downy flower-stalk ; stamens ten, much shorter 

 than the corolla ; anthers brown. 



Native of the Sikkim Himalaya at 10,000 to 12,000 ft. ; introduced in 1849. 

 It is quite hardy in the Rhododendron Dell at Kew, but enjoys a warmer 

 climate. The unusual colour of the flowers among rhododendrons, and the 

 striking snowy white covering to the young leaves, gives this species a 

 certain distinction and makes it well worth growing. It flowers from March 

 to May. Of its several forms, some are much inferior to others ; 



Var. FULVUM (Bot. Mag., t. 6827) is one of the best. It leaves are 

 reddish brown beneath, and the flower-truss larger than in the type. 



R. NOBLE AN UM, Lindley. 



Soon after the first flowering of R. arboreum, which had been introduced 

 from the Himalaya in 1817, a number of crosses were made with the various 



