THE RHODODENDRON. 75 



absence of flowers, and of the fresh and vivid green 

 of the younger growth. 



But in many plants, 

 even in rigorous cli- 

 mates, this period of 

 rest is not attended 

 by the falling of the 

 foliage. The beauti- 

 ful varieties of the 

 Rhododendron, some 

 of which inhabit the 

 mountains of Pennsyl- 

 vania, are examples, 

 among many others, 

 of evergreen shrubs. 

 The greatest variety 

 of these superb flower- 

 ing plants grow on the 

 Rhododendron. woody slopes of the 



Himalaya Mountains, where they may be seen early 

 in the spring loaded with their conspicuous heads of 

 often gay-colored and fragrant blossoms. Occasion- 

 ally large trees become quite embowered in them, as 

 they sometimes fasten themselves to the trunks, and, 

 leaving their hold upon the earth, creep to the very 

 summits, where they grow in the manner of parasites, 

 deriving their nourishment from the bark. 



The flowers of these plants vary much, both in 

 size and color ; some are very large, and appear two 

 or three together j these are mostly white or cream- 

 colored, resembling a lily ; others are brilliant crim- 



