R f I O 



R H O 



nialc, the calyx is a four-parted perianth, con- 

 cave, erect, obtuse, permanent: the corolla has 

 four oblong obtuse petals, from erect-spreading, 

 double the length of the calyx, deciduous. Nec- 

 taries four, erect, emarginate, shorter than the 

 calyx : the stamina have eight awl-shapyd fila- 

 ments longer than the corolla. Anthers simple: 

 the pistilknn has four oblong acuminate germs. 

 Stvles and stigmas obsolete : the pcricarpuim is 

 abortive : female ; the calyx is a perianth as in 

 the male: the corolla has fonr petals, rude, erect, 

 obtuse, equal with the calyx, permanent. Nec- 

 taries as in the male : the pist.llum is as four 

 oblong acun;inate germs, ending in simple 

 straight stvles : stigmas obtuse : the pericar- 

 piimi has four horned capsules opening in\vard>3 : 

 the seeds very many, roundish. 



The species cultivated is : R. rosea. Common 

 or Yellow Rosewort. 



It has a very thick fleshy root, which when 

 bruised or cut sends out an odour like roses; 

 with many heads, whence in the s-pring come 

 out thick succulent stalks about nine inches 

 loniT, closely garnished with thick succulent 

 leaves of a gray colour, an inch long, and half 

 an inch broad, indented on their edges towards 

 the top, and placed alternately on every side the 

 stalk; which is terminated by a cluster of yel- 

 lowish herbaceous flowers, male and female, on 

 distinct plants appearing early in iVlay. They 

 iiave a very agreeable scent, but are not of long 

 continuance. It is a native of Lapland. 



There is a variety in which the roots are small- 

 er; the stalks small, and not above five inches 

 long ; the leaves small, ending with a purple 

 point ; the petals are purplish, and the stamens 

 little longer than the petals. It flowers later. 



Culture. — ^This plant may be increased by 

 planting cuttings of the stalks in the beginning 

 of April, soon after they come out from the 

 head, in a shady border ; covering them close 

 down with a glass, and keeping them dry, wjhen 

 they mostlv put out roots in about six -weeks ; 

 but the cuttings should be laid in a dry room at 

 least a week before they are planted out, other- 

 wise they are apt to rot, and be destroyed. 



They may also be raised by parting the roots 

 in the beguming of autumn, when the stalks 

 begin to decay; and wh.en the fleshy parts are 

 cut or broken they should be laid to dry a few 

 davs befoic they are planted. They require a 

 shady situation, and a dry undunged soil, in 

 which they will continue many years. They af- 

 ford variety in the borders, clumps, &c. 



RHODODENDRUM, a genus containing 

 plants of the hardy, deciduous, and evergreen, 

 flowering, shrubby kinds. Dwarf Rose- bay. 



It belongs to the class and order Dtcandria 

 ^ 7 



Monogynia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Btcorncs, 



The characters are : that the calyx is a five- 

 parted permanent perianth : the corolla one- 

 petal led, wheel-funnel-form : border spreading, 

 with rounded segments : the stamina have teil 

 flliforni filaments, almost the length of the co^ 

 rolla, declined. Anthers oval : the pistilluin i& 

 a five-cornered retusc germ. Style filiform, the 

 length of the corolla. Stigma obtuse : the pe- 

 ricarpium is an ovate capsule, subangular, tive- 

 celled, divisible into five parts : the seeds nu- 

 merous, very small. 



The species are : \. R. ferrugineum, Rusty- 

 leaved Rhododendron : 2. R. hirmtum, Hairy 

 Rhododendron: 3. R. chamcccislus, Dwarf Rho- 

 dodendron, or Rose- bay : 4. R. psnticuvi, Purple 

 Rhododendron: 5. i?, maxwn/m. Broad-leaved 

 Rhododendron. 



The first rises with a shrubby stalk near three 

 feet high, sending out many irregular branches, 

 covered with a purplish bark. The leaves are 

 lanceolate, an inch and half long, and half an 

 inch broad in the middle, entire, with reflexed 

 borders, lucid green on their upper surface, and 

 rusty-coloured underneath, placed all round the 

 branches without order. The flowers are pro- 

 duced in round bunches at the ends of the 

 branches: the corolla is funnel-shaped with a 

 short tube, and is cut into five obtuse segments 

 at the brim, spreading a little open, and of a pale 

 rose colour. It is a native of Switzerland, 

 flowering from May to July. 



The second species seldom rises two feet 

 high, and sends out many short woody branches, 

 covered with a light brown bark. The leaves 

 are ovate-lanceolate, about half an inch long, 

 and a quarter of an inch broad, silting i.retty 

 close to the branches; they are entire, and have a 

 great number of fine ferruginous hairs on their 

 edges and under side. The flowers are produced 

 in bunches at the ends of the branches. The 

 tube of the corolla is about half an inch long : 

 the five segments of the brim are obtuse, spread 

 half open, and are of a pale red colour. It is a 

 native of the mountains of Switzerland. 



The third is a small shrub, very much branch- 

 ed, the extreme branches leafy. The leaves are 

 oblong, hard, on short reddish petioles. The 

 peduncles one, or more, an inch long, villose, 

 reddish brown, terminating. Calyx deeply fi^e- 

 cleft, of the same colour with the peduncle; the 

 segments acute. The corolla purple, the seg- 

 ments ovate. The stamens longer than these. 

 The style longer than the stamens. It is a na- 

 tive of Austria, &cc. 



The fourth species has an upright trunk, 

 shrubby, cummonly the height of a man, but 



