RHODODENDRON 



375 



along the previous year's wood. Often from 6 to more than 12 ins. of the 

 shoot will be laden with blossom very different from the single rounded truss 

 which in Rhododendron is usually seen terminating the shoot. This shrub 

 produces good seed in abundance, which affords an easy means of increase. 

 It can also be propagated from cuttings. 



It is a charming plant for grouping in 

 low shrubberies. 



R. RHODORA, Gmelin. 



(R. canadense, Dir-pel ; Rhodora canadensis, 

 Linnceus, Bot. Mug., t. 474.) 



A deciduous shrub, rarely more than 

 3 to 4 ft. high ; branches erect-growing ; 

 branchlets smooth except when quite 

 young. Leaves narrowly oval, tapering 

 about equally to either end ; mostly 2 

 to i\ ins. long, \ to f in. wide ; with 

 scatfered bristles on the upper surface 

 and margins ; lower surface downy, 

 becoming, in some plants at least, 

 nearly or quite smooth before falling. 

 Flowers bright rosy purple, i to i^ ins. 

 wide, produced in April in a cluster of 

 about six at the end of naked twigs. 

 The corolla has its three upper lobes 

 united almost to the end, and erect ; the 

 two lower ones narrow-oblong, divided 

 to the base, and spreading. Calyx green, 

 the lobes shallow, rounded, glandular 

 at the margins ; flower-stalks \ in. long, 

 glandular ; stamens ten, downy quite at 

 the base ; anthers purple. 



Native of Eastern N. America; intro- 

 duced in 1767. This isoneof thebrightest 

 and most pleasing of early-flowering 

 shrubs, and one of the hardiest. 

 Once considered distinct enough to 

 occupy a separate genus (Rhodora), it 

 has latterly been united with Rhodo- 

 dendron. But from all the deciduous 

 species, the curious two-lipped corolla 

 consisting of one broad, erect segment 

 and two spreading narrow ones, and 

 (from most) the ten stamens distinguish 

 it. The twigs of the year are remarkable 

 also in thickening gradually towards 

 the end. Increased by seed. Often 

 growing in swamps in a wild state, it loves a moist position under cultivation. 



RHODODENDRON RACEMOSUM. 



R. RHOMIJICUM, Miquel. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 6972 ; Azalea rhombica, O. A'untze.) 



A deciduous shrub, 4 or 5 ft. (perhaps more) high, with stiff, erect, some- 

 what sparse branches, covered with a loose brownish wool when young. 



