se 
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116 BALFOUR—NEW SPECIES OF RHODODENDRON. 
Species ex affinitate Rh. sanguinei, Franch. indumento 
sebaceo-setuloso bene distincta. 
Eastern Upper Burma. Nwai Divide. Ridge of Naung- 
Chaung. Alt. 12,000-13,000 ft. Dwarf shrub forming tangled 
growths covering a good deal of ground and rising to a height 
of about a foot. Amongst bamboo growth on the ridge near 
tree limit and amongst rhododendron carpet at the summit of 
the mountain (N. slope). Flowers dull yellow and orange-red. 
F, Kingdon Ward. No. 1793- 16.7.14. 
This is a pretty species allied to Rh. sanguineum, Franch. 
This series of rhododendrons is characterised by the white or 
grey under-leaf indumentum forming a crusty uniform stratum 
composed of floccose hairs with very short stalks from which 
radiate long empty vesicular branches which by interweaving 
form the smooth often crust-like surfate ; by the tubular cam- 
panulate 5-lobed corolla; by the 10 stamens; by the ovary 
densely coated with ascending chestnut-coloured fasciate hairs 
often mixed more or less with greasy setae with club-shaped 
ends; by the glabrous style and narrowstigma. The series seems 
to be well developed along the Burma-Yunnan frontier from 
Tibet southwards. Rh. herpesticum is readily separated from 
Rh, sanguineum by the setulose twigs and petioles on which 
there is also a lower indumental stratum of white floccose hairs. 
Also the calyx-lobes are well developed. The indumentum- 
characters also separate it from Rh. dichroanthum, Diels and 
from Rh. apodectum, Balf. f. et W. W. Sm 
Rh. invictum, Balf. f. et Farrer. 
Frutex tenuiramosus ad 2 m., altus ubique lepidibus peltatis 
magnis plus minusve vestitus, lepidibus ex umbone magno 
tandem secretione aurea tincto institaque aequilata integra aedi- 
ficatis. Ramuli annotini rubro-purpurei circ. 1.5 mm. diam. 
lus minusve puberuli et lepidoti demum griseo-decorticantes. 
Alabastrorum lateralium oblongorum circ. 3 mm. diam. acutorum 
perulae exteriores tenuiter coriaceae pallide brunneae rotun- 
datae circ. 4 mm. diam. leviter carinatae mucronatae extus 
minute puberulae et centro lepidotae intus glabrae (costa media 
prope apicem adpresso-puberula excepta) margine minute ciliatae, 
interiores pallide virides spathulatae circ. 1 cm. longae 3.5 mm. 
latae submembranaceae apice rotundatae mucronulatae extus 
epilosae centro lepidotae minute ciliatae; folia juvenilia con- 
voluta subtus Squamulis imbricatis dense flavido-lepidota (costa 
media plus minusve excepta) supra puberula fere elepidota 
costae mediae sulco dense puberulo. Folia petiolata ad 5.5 cm. 
longa ; lamina coriacea elliptica vel oblongo-elliptica circ. 4.5 Cm. 
longa 2.5 cm. lata apice obtusa mucrone conspicuo, margine 
