ERICACEAE, — RHODODENDRON 509 



villoso, lobis patentibus late ovatis v. obovatis 6-10 mm. longis; 

 stamina 8, subaequalia, corolla paullo breviora, filamcntis 8-10 mm. 

 longis in triente inferiore ima basi dilatata excepta villosis, antheris 

 ochraceis; ovarium conicum, fere 2 mm. longum, dense lepidotum; 

 stylus filiformis rectus, purpureus, 14-15 mm. longus, stamina su- 

 perans, stigmate capitato atropurpureo. Capsula ovoidea, 5 mm. 

 longa, lepidota, 5-valvata. 



Western Szech'uan: north of Tachien-lu, Ta-p'ao-shan, form- 

 ing heaths, alt. 4000-5000 m., July 7, 1908 (No. 3467, type); vicinity 

 of Tachien-lu, moorlands, alt. 3600-4600 m., June and October 1908 

 (Nos. 3459, 13 19, in part). 



This species is most closely allied to R. polycladum Franchet, which has nar- 

 rower acute leaves, attenuate at the base and less densely scaly below, and a smaller 

 cal>-x with two rotundate and three triangular lobes. Rhododendron ramosissimum 

 Franchet, to which this new species is also closely related, differs in its foliage and 

 short style. All the members of this group are very similar in general appearance 

 and difficult to distinguish. The color, however, of the under surface of the leaves, 

 due to the presence of lepidote glands, apparently affords a useful character for 

 separating the species. The roundish leaves, rufous-brown below, and the mem- 

 branous calyx distinguish this new species from its allies. 



Rhododendron nitidulum Rehder & Wilson, n. sp. 



Frutex 0.60-1.30 m. altus, ramosissimus ramis gracilibus erectis 

 V. adscendentibus ; ramuli hornotini dense fusco-lepidoti; gemmae 

 ovoideae, perulis paucis rotundatis in medio dorsi lepidotis ceterum 

 minutissime puberulis ciliolatis. Folia coriacea, ovalia v. ovata, rarius 

 elliptico-ovata, obtusa et mucronulata v. interdum acutiuscula, basi 

 rotundata v. late cuneata, 7-12 mm. longa et 5-7 mm. lata, supra 

 atroviridia squamuhs fere contiguis flavidis nitidulis obtecta, subtus 

 pallide cinereo-fulva dense squamulis pallide fulvis fere contiguis 

 nitidulis obtecta, costa media utrinque fere obsoleta, nervis secun- 

 dariis obscuris. Flores solitarii v. rarius bini e gemma terminali orti, 

 subsessiles, perulis persistentibus suffulti; calyx membranaceus, lepi- 

 dotus, profunde 5-lobus, lobis plerumque subaequalibus, ovatis v. 

 oblongo-ovatis, circiter 2 mm. longis, plerumque acutiusculis, apice 

 sparse cihati, extus lepidoti; corolla infundibuliformis, violaceo- 

 purpurea, 2.5 cm. diam., tubo circiter 5 mm. longo intus ad faucem 

 villoso, lobis patentibus ovalibus obovatis rotundatis circiter 1 cm. 

 longis et 5-7 mm. latis; stamina 8-10, corollam fere aequantia, fila- 

 mcntis gracilibus 8-10 mm. longis in triente inferiore basi dilatata 



