XLIII. 



BHODODENDRON. 



585 



379., and our fig. 1 102. ; is a hybrid between JR. ponticum and 



some species of Azalea with fragrant blossoms. It was originated 



about 1 820, and is a favourite in collections. 

 * R. p. 1 fragrans Chandler (Herb. Amaryll. p. 356.) was raised in 



the Vauxhall Nursery. 

 Nursery Varieties. The following are cultivated by Messrs. Loddiges : 



The -Rhododendron ponticum is the commonest species of the genus in 

 British gardens, where it grows to the height of from 5ft. to 15ft., or up- 

 wards ; forming a dense bush, which will spread over a large space, if it be 

 allowed abundance of room. In proper soil, if kept moist, the plant will 

 make shoots, when young, of 1 ft. or more in length in a season, attaining the 

 height of 4 or 5 feet in 5 or 6 years : but afterwards it grows more slowly ; 

 and, when a large bush, seldom makes shoots above 6 in. in length. It ap- 

 pears to be of considerable durability. In cool, loamy or sandy, and some- 

 what moist soils, it is planted in woods as ornamental undergrowth, and 

 succeeds perfectly, both in England and Scotland. It will grow in almost 

 any soil ; but, in England, it seems to thrive best in sandy peat, or deep 

 sandy loam. In the common manured earth of gardens it succeeds worse 

 than in unmanured loams of a close texture, even strong clays, particularly 

 if the latter be kept moist. The want of tenacity of the manured garden soil 

 alluded to, more especially in a dry season, seems not to allow it to cohere 

 sufficiently to the small hair-like roots of this order of plants, to enable their 

 very minute spongioles to imbibe nourishment from it. 



* 2. R. MA'XIMUM L. The largest Rhododendron, or American Rose Say. 



Identification. Lin. Sp. PL, p. 563. ; Don's Mill., 3. 



p. 843. ; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836. 

 Engravings. Lam. 111., 364. ; Schmidt Baum., 1. 121. ; 



and our fig. 1103. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Arborescent. Leaves 

 elliptic-oblong, acute, convex, bluntish 

 at the base, whitish or rusty beneath, 

 glabrous. Calycine segments oval- 

 obtuse. Segments of corolla roundish. 

 Flowers pale red, in umbellate co- 

 rymbs, studded with green, yellow, or 

 purple protuberances. (Don's Mill.) 

 An evergreen shrub. Canada to 

 Carolina, on the mountains, near rivu- 

 ^ e * s an( ^ lakes, upon rocks and barren 

 soils. Height 10ft. to 15ft. Intro- 



duced in 1736. Flowers pale red, and yellowish ; 



June to August, Capsules brown ; ripe in 



September. 



Varieties. 



* R. m. 2 album Hori. Flowers pure white, 

 and is comparatively rare in British gar- 

 dens. 



ai R. TO. 3 hybridwa Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 3454. 

 (and our fig. 1104.) R. fragrans Hort., 

 R. hjbridum Lodd. Cat. Supposed to 

 be a hybrid originated by fertilising the 

 common white glaucous-leaved Azalea 

 with the pollen of R. maximum. This 



1103. /{.maximu 



