532 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



This is a very common species above 2000 m. alt. in north-west Hupeh, and is 

 easily recognized by its villose pedicels and ovary, rather short, elliptic leaves with 

 the midrib floccosely tomentose on the under side. 



Rhododendron Weldianum Rehder & Wilson, n. sp. 



Frutex 2-4-metralis; ramuli crassi, initio j[loccoso-tomentosi, mox 

 glabrescentes; gemmae ovoideae, purpurascentes, perulis late ovatis 

 apice rotundatis subito mucronatis extus marginem versus villosulis 

 intus villosulis. Folia coriacea, elliptico-oblonga, basi cuneata, rarius 

 rotundata, acuta v. breviter acuminata, margine leviter revoluta, 

 6-11 cm. longa et 3-4 cm. lata, supra glabra, nitidula, leviter rugulosa, 

 subtus dense tomento lanuginoso initio albido demum ferrugineo 

 obtecta, costa media supra impressa subtus elevata, nervis utrinque 

 10-12 obsoletis supra leviter impressis; petioli crassi complanati, 

 1-1.5 cm. longi, floccoso-tomentosi, glabrescentes. Florum fragmenta 

 tantum adsunt; calyx obsoletus; corolla infundibuliformis, 22 mm. 

 longa, lobis late ovatis 9-10 mm. longis, tubo 12 mm. longo; stamina 

 20 mm. longa, corolla paullo breviora, in quarta parte inferiore 

 pilosula. Racemi sub-umbelliformes, 6-12-flori; pedicelli crassi, 1-1.5 

 cm. longi, ut capsula tomento rufescente floccoso-lanuginoso vestiti; 

 capsula cylindrica, 2-2.5 cm. longa et 7-9 mm. diam. ; semina ovato- 

 oblonga, 2.5-3.5 mm. longa, compressa, obscure brunnea, striatula. 



Western Szech'uan: west and near Wen-ch'uan Hsien, wood- 

 lands, alt. 3300 m., October 1910 (No. 4235, type); near Sungpan 

 Ting, woodlands, alt. 3500 m., October 1910 (No. 4250). 



This species seems most closely allied to R. rufum Batalin which we have not seen 

 but according to the description this plant has shorter and broader leaves, 

 rounded at the ends, longer petioles, a longer corolla-tube and shorter stamens, 

 reaching only to the base of the lobes. 



This species is named for General Stephen Minot Weld, a former president of 

 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and a generous supporter of Wilson's 

 expeditions to China. 



Rhododendron Wasonii Hemsley & Wilson in Kew Bull. Misc. 

 Inform. 1910, 105. 



Western Szech'uan: Mupin, woodlands, alt. 2600 m., June 1908 

 (No. 3423; bush 1-2 m. tall, flowers rose-pink); south-east of Tachien- 

 lu, forests on cliffs and boulders, alt. 3000-3600 m., October 1910 

 (No. 4249; bush 1-1.25 cm. tall); Tachien-lu, forests, alt. 3000 m., 

 May and July, 1904 (Veitch Exped. Nos. 3955, type, 3965, 3969). 



This is a common low-growing species partial to rocks in the forests. The 

 broadly lanceolate to nearly ovate leaves shining green above and covered below 



