Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 239 



PINK AZALEA; PINXTER FLOWER, (WILD HON- 

 EY-SUCKLE) (Rhododendron nudiflorum) is one of 



our most interesting wild shrubs, interesting because 

 the flowers bloom before the leaves appear, or just 

 as they commence to grow, and because of the very 

 beautiful colors its pink flowers impart to our swamps 

 during April and early May. The flowers are prac- 

 tically the same in form as the white varieties, ex- 

 cept that the corolla-tube is shorter. The color 

 varies from just a rosy blush to a crimson pink. 

 This added coloring seems to be at the expense of 

 fragrance, for this species, while sweet scented, is 

 not nearly as fragrant as the White Azalea. When 

 the blossoms commence to fade, they loosen at the 

 base and slip down on the long stamens, where they 

 often remain suspended for several days before fall- 

 ing off. 



Pink Azalea grows in open woods or swamps from 

 Me. to 111. and southwards. 



FLAME-COLORED AZALEA (R. calendulaceum) is 

 a similar species well described by its names. Its 

 large blossoms are orange, usually turning red, but 

 are not fragrant, a still further loss of fragrance in 

 conjunction with a brightening of color. The corolla 

 tube is shorter than the lobes. This species is found 

 from southern N. Y. to Ga. 



RHODORA (Rhododendron canadense) is a beau- 

 tiful member of this family, immortalized in verse by 

 Emerson. It is a smaller shrub growing from 1 to 3 

 feet high. The flowers usually appear before the pale 

 green, oblong leaves; the corolla is about one inch 

 long, light magenta, and two-lipped. The upper lip 

 is 3-lobed and the lower is nearly divided into two 

 distinct, linear petals. They grow in thin clusters 

 terminating the branches. Rhodora is found on damp 

 hillsides and in swamps from Newfoundland to Que- 

 bec and south to N. J. and Pa., flowering during May 

 and June. 



