526 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



David. II. 86) (1887). — Hemsley & Wilson in Kew Bull. Misc. 

 Inform. 1910, 111. 



Western Szech'uan: Wa-shan, thickets, alt. 2100-2500 m., June 

 and October 1908 (No. 1210; bush 5-6 m. tall, flowers pale pink); 

 Mupin, thickets, alt. 2300-2800 m., October 1910 (No. 4276; bush 

 2.5-5 m. tall); without exact locahty, alt. 2300-2800 m., May 1904 

 (Veitch Exped. No. 3962); Mt. Omei, June 1904 (Veitch Exped. No. 

 5137). 



This is one of the commonest species in western Szech'uan and shows much vari- 

 ation. The numerous forms before us are most puzzling, the differences between 

 the extremes being greater than those separating many species. There is, however, 

 a general look about them which strongly points to their belonging to one 

 variable species. Since most of these forms are in cultivation a better classification 

 may perhaps be made later. 



The above numbers agree in having the shoots sparsely covered with a gray 

 tomentum, and in having the corolla much narrowed at the base (infundibuliform- 

 campanulate) as described by Franchet when founding the species; they also agree 

 in their very short stamens. Nos. 1210 and 5137 differ from the type in the glabrous 

 filaments. No. 1210 has a large membranous anomalous-looking calyx; the lobes 

 being very unequal in size (from 3 to 12 mm.) and frequently laciniate. The 

 presence of this calyx suggests relationship with R. neriiflorum Franchet. In No. 

 5137 the tomentum of the ovary is rufous instead of white. 



The undescribed fruit of this species is narrowly cylindric, 2-3 cm. long, 6-8 

 mm. wide, straight or slightly curved, furrowed, tipped by remains of style, sparsely 

 puberulous; seeds fusiform, about 3 mm. long, yellowish-brown. 



Rhododendron argyrophyllum, var. cupulare Rehder & Wilson, n. 

 var. 



A typo recedit ramulis glabris, foliis basi saepius subrotundatis, 

 corolla late campanulata basi non angustata, staminibis plerumque 

 corollam aequantibus, stylo exserto. 



Western Szech'uan: Mupin, thickets, alt. 2000-2500 m., June 

 1908 (No. 3442, type; bush 1.5-3 m. tall, flowers pink); same locahty, 

 woodlands, alt. 3000 ft., October 1910 (No. 4275^; bush 4 m. tall); 

 south-east of Tachien-lu, woods, alt. 2600-3000 m., June 1908 (No. 

 3441; bush 1-4 m. tall, flowers blush-white); west of Kuan Hsien, 

 Pan-lan-shan, woodlands, alt. 2300-3000 m., October 1910 (No. 

 4275; bush 2-4 m. tall); without precise locality, alt. 2600-2800 m., 

 May 1904 (Veitch Exped. No. 3963; bush 1-8 m. tall). 



In No. 3442, the leaves are cuneate at the base, but in the other numbers they 

 are usually rounded. No. 3441 has the corolla somewhat approaching the type 

 in shape, the stamens and pistil are also nearly intermediate in length between 

 those of the type and the variety. In No. 3963 some of the flowers have a well-de- 

 veloped membranous calyx with triangular-ovate, acute or rounded teeth, some of 



