754 



The Rhododendrons 



and leathery, oblong or oval, 8 to 12 cm. long, pointed at the apex, rounded, 

 narrowed, or somewhat heart-shaped at the base, revolute on the margin, dark 

 green, smooth and shining above, pale and glaucous with the midrib prominent 

 beneath; the leaf-stalk is stout and broad, about 3 cm. long. The flowers ap- 

 pear in May and June in dense clusters often 13 cm. across, on stout pedicels 

 which are hairj' at first, but become smooth, 3 to 3.5 cm. long; calyx short, the 

 lobes triangular and sharp-pointed; corolla hlac-purple, 4 to 6 cm. across, longer 

 than broad, its lobes irregularly scalloped, and notched at the apex; ovary ribbed 

 and hair}'; capsules oblong or oblong-ovoid, 1.5 to 2 cm. long, the long style and 

 the calyx persisting; seeds numerous and small. 



This most beautiful species is mainly confined to the higher peaks of the south- 

 ern mountains, growing in large areas, and when in bloom gives a distinct color to 

 the landscape. It is sparingly used for ornamental planting and is one of the par- 

 ents of some of the beautiful garden forms that are so largely imported from 

 Europe. 



3. CALIFORNIA RHODODENDRON Rhododendron californicum 



Hooker 



An evergreen shrub, at times a small tree, also called Mountain laurel and 

 California mountain laurel; it occurs on rich slopes and in ravines of the Cascade 



Mountains and along the coast from 

 Mendocino county, CaHfomia, north- 

 ward to British Columbia, reaching a 

 maximum height of 7.5 meters. 



Its branches are stout, erect or nearly 

 so. The bark is thin, close, and scaly. 

 The twigs are stout, smooth or nearly so, 

 and reddish green, becoming red-brown. 

 The leaves are broadly oblong, 7 to 15 

 cm. long, abruptly short pointed, usually 

 tapering at the base, very sHghtly revo- 

 lute on the margin, rather thin, leathery, 

 smooth, Hght green above, pale, smooth, 

 Fig. 689.- California Rhododendron. ^,j^j^ prominent rounded midrib beneath; 



the broad petiole is 1.5 to 2 cm. long. The rose-colored flowers are in large, dense 

 clusters on long, slender pedicels. The calyx is small, the lobes slightly hairy ; the 

 corolla is broadly bell-shaped, 5 cm. across, streaked with red and spotted with 

 yellow, the tube short, the lobes broad, wavy and crisp margined; stamens 10, un- 

 equal, shorter than the corolla, rose-colored; filaments incurved at the apex, 

 thickened and downy at the base; anthers deep pink; ovary ellipsoid, brown, silky 

 hairy, 5-celled; style longer than the stamens; stigma 5-lobed. The capsule is 

 oblong, 2.5 to 4 cm. long. 



