ERICACEyE 3j5 



The characteristics and Swiss representatives of the 

 genus are : 



Shrubby ; the branches leafy at the top ; leaves 

 coriaceous, entire, persistent ; flowers in very short 

 racemes ; calyx 5-fid or 5-toothed, the teeth sometimes 

 very small ; corolla 5-toothed, funnel-shaped; stamens 10. 



J{. ferrugineum (PI. LX1X). Shrub 20-40 in.; branches 

 many, woody, twisted, black-brown; leaves ovate, deep 

 green above, rusty brown below ; flowers brilliant 

 carmine, in short racemes. Occasionally a white-flower- 

 ed example is met. Alps and southern Jura. 800-2000 m. 

 July-August. 



7{. hirsutum. Native of the northern and eastern Alps, 

 from the Vaudois group to the Sentis ; leaves shining 

 green, marginally ciliate ; flowers larger and of clearer 

 pink than in the preceding. yoo-25oo m. 



The Rhododendron is, as Rambert says, the alpine 

 plant par excellence. Not only does it not exist in the 

 surrounding plains, but nothing like to it is found there. 

 Not merely the species, but the whole genus is alpine. 

 The first bush of it marks an event in each excursion ; a 

 moment sees it robbed and bare, to grace button-holes or 

 hats or bodice. Free child of the mountain, drinking 

 through every pore that brisk and tonic air which 

 quickens the blood and banishes gnawing thoughts, is 

 there not some mysterious harmony between thy flower- 

 ing shrub, all radiant with health and light, and the 

 ringing peasant jodel, echoing from hill to hill, which 

 feeble lungs or downcast hearts could never learn to 

 utter ? 



M. Je Dr. Hermann Christ, in his remarkable work 

 Flore de la Suisse, has written an excellent and scholarly 

 account of these two Swiss Rhododendrons. Nor is it 

 possible to speak of these plants without calling to mind 



