CHAP. LXIX. RICA % CEJE. .RHODODENDRON. 1145 



is a native of North America, from New York to Virginia, and is found in 

 deep mossy swamps on the mountains. It is a shrub, growing from 2 ft. to 

 4ft. in height, and flowering in June and July. Introduced in 1812, and 

 in cultivation in British nurseries. 



* 25. R. SPECIO V SUM G. Don. (A. SPECIO'SA wuu.) The showy Azalea. 



Identification. Don's Mill., 3. p. 848. 



Synonymes. Azalea speciosa n'illd. F.num., p. 10., Wats. Dend. Brit., t 116. ; 



A. coccmea Lodd. Bot. Cab., t. 6i>4. 

 Engravings. Bot. Cat, t. 624. ; Dend. Brit., t.'.116. ; and our Jig. 950. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Branches hairy. Leaves lanceolate, ciliated, 

 acute at both ends. Calyx pubescent. Corolla silky, with 

 obtuse, ciliated, lanceolate, undulated segments. Stamens 

 exserted. (Don's Mill., iii. p. 848.) We are strongly 

 inclined to think that this, and several other sorts, which, 

 in conformity with the practice of modern writers, we \ 950 



have treated as species, are only varieties ; in short, it would not surprise 

 us, if ultimately it should turn out that there was only one species of Azalea 

 indigenous to North America, and one species to Asia. 



ai 26. R. ARBORE'SCENS Ton: (A. ARBORE'SCENS Pursfi.) The arborescent Azalea. 



Identification. Torr., 1. c. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. 847. 



Synonymes. Azalea arborescens Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., 1. p. 153. ; A. arborea Bart. Cat. 



Spec. Char., $c. Leaves obovate, rather obtuse, smooth on both surfaces, 

 glaucous beneath, ciliated on the margins, having the midrib almost smooth 

 Flowers not clammy, leafy. Tube of corolla longer than the segments. 

 Calyx leafy, with the segments oblong and acute. Filaments exserted. 

 (Don's Mill., iii. p. 847.) Pursh, writing of this species, in 1814, says, " This 

 beautiful species has, to my knowledge, not yet been introduced into the 

 gardens. I have only seen it in its native place, and in the garden of Mr. 

 John Bartram, near Philadelphia, whose father introduced it many years 

 ago. It rises from 10ft. to 15ft. high; and forms, with its elegant foliage, 

 and large, abundant, rose-coloured flowers, the finest ornamental shrub 

 I know. The flowers are not so pubescent as those of the other 

 species. The scales of the flower buds are large, yellowish brown, and 

 surrounded with a fringed white border." (Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., i. p. 153.) 

 It was introduced in 1818 ; and there are plants of it at Messrs. Loddiges's; 

 but it is not frequent in collections. 



v. Rhodbra D. Don. 



Identification. Don's Mill., 3. p. 848. 



Derivation. From rhodon, a rose ; in reference to the colour of the flowers. 



Sect. Char. Limb of calyx 5-toothed. Corolla bilabiate : upper lip broad- 

 est, and 2 3-cleft ; lower one bidentate. Stamens 10. Capsule 5-celled, 

 5-valved. Leaves deciduous. (Don's Mill., iii. p. 848.) 



jt 27. R. jRHODO^RA G. Don (.RHODORA CANADE'NSIS L.) The Canada Rhodora. 



Identification. Don's Mill., 3. p. 843. 



Si/noHi/Hic. Rhodora canadensis Lin. Sp. t 561., L'HMt. Stirp. Nov., 1. p. 141. t 68., Lam. lit., 



',., Curt. Bot. Mag, t. 474. 



Engravings. L'Hferit Stirp. Nov., 1. 1 68. ; Lam. Illust, t. 364. ; Bot. Mag., t. 474.; and our 

 fig- '951. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves oval, quite entire, pubescent and glaucous beneath. 

 Flowers in terminal clusters, or racemose umbels; and pale purple, protruded 

 before the leaves. (Don's Mill., iii. p. 848.) A native of Canada, New- 

 foundland, and on the mountains of New York and Pennsylvania, in bogs. 

 A deciduous shrub, growing about 2ft. high, and flowering in April and 

 May. Introduced in 1 767, and frequent in collections, where it is highly 

 prized for its early flowering and beauty. Plants of this species, in the 

 British nurseries, are 1*. each ; at Bollvvyller, 3 francs; at New York,?. 



