18 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



shrubs characteristic of a cool-temperate flora and belonging to 

 familiar genera. To these must be added forests of Conifers and 

 many ornamental tall-growing herbs. It is in this zone that we 

 find the astonishing variety of flowering trees and shrubs which 

 is the preeminent feature of the Chinese flora: — of Clematis 65 

 species are recorded from China, Lonicera 60 species, Rubus 100 

 species, Vitis 35 species, Euonymus 30 species, Berberis 40 species, 

 Acer 40 species, Viburnum 40 species, Ilex 30 species, Prunus 50 

 species, Senecio 110 species, and so 1 might continue. Pyrus is a 

 prominent family in the belt and is in China what Crataegus is here 

 in the United States of America. The genus is in a dreadful mess 

 and we have no real idea of the number of species. 



Amongst such enormous wealth it is difficult to make selections, 

 but if any one family has outstanding claims it is Rhododendron. 



As in the Himalaya so in Western China Rhododendrons are a 

 special feature. Indeed Rhododendron is the largest genus re- 

 corded from China, no fewer than 150 species being known. I, 

 myself, have collected about 80 species and have introduced about 

 50 odd species to the Arnold Arboretum and elsewhere. About 

 25% of these are new and hitherto undescribed species. Rhodo- 

 dendrons commence at sea-level, but do not get really abundant 

 till 8000 feet is reached. They extend up to the limits of ligneous 

 vegetation, 15,000 feet circa. Rhododendrons are gregarious plants, 

 and nearly every species has a well-defined altitudinal limit. In 

 size they vary from alpine plants only a few inches high to trees 

 40 feet. In color they range from pure white, through clear yellow 

 to the deepest and richest shades of scarlet and crimson. In June 

 the mountains are one mass of color and no finer sight can be 

 imagined than miles and miles of these mountain sides covered with 

 Rhododendrons in full flower. 



In western China the character of the flora above 9000 feet changes 

 immensely, and the narrow belt, 9000 to 11,000 feet, forms the 

 hinterland between the temperate zone with its wealth of flowering 

 trees and shrubs and the alpine zone with its equally great variety 

 in herbs. This narrow belt is mostly moorland and where the 

 nature of the country admits, forest. The moorlands are covered 

 with dwarf, small-leaved Rhododendrons and scrub-like shrubs, 

 chiefly Berberis, Spiraea, Caragana, Lonicera, Potentilla fritticosa, 



