132 BALFOUR—NEW SPECIES OF RHODODENDRON. 
“T have been at a loss to know whether this remarkably 
handsome tree should be regarded as distinct from Falconeri 
or not. Having gathered the latter plant only a few months 
ago in Sikkim I had no doubt in my mind whatever when I came 
across Macabeanum on Japvo that it was quite distinct. The 
dried specimens, however, approach each other so very much 
that I have considered it advisable for the present to regard it 
as but a variety of Hooker’s Sikkim plant which he named in 
honour of the late Dr. Falconer. 
“The discovery of Falconert or a nearly allied form so far 
away from Sikkim must be viewed as a most interesting addition 
to our knowledge of the Himalayan vegetation. An addition 
which renews the ever-deepening feeling of disappointment at 
the want of interest taken in Botanical Science in India. Whether 
this curious tree of which Sir Joseph Hooker remarks, ‘ It is the 
most striking and distinct of the genus,’ has been spread from 
East Nepal and from the neighbourhood of Tonglo in West 
Sikkim eastward through the vast and practically unexplored 
Bhotan Himalayas, to the Naga Hills, must remain a problem 
for the future to solve. We know now, however, that a most 
interesting plant discovered in 1849, and which down to the 
present date has been considered as confined to an extremely 
limited area on the Singaleelah Range (in Sikkim and Nepal), 
has its home in the Naga Hills and the lofty Burmah-Manipur 
mountains forming alpine forests on numerous peaks within an 
area of over 3000 square miles. 
“ Griffith during his exploration of a portion of Bhotan 
brought to light a large number of extremely interesting plants 
which have practically been lost to Science. Most of these have 
never since been rediscovered, of which R. grande is of interest 
as being probably a form of Falconeri, which may prove the link 
of connection with Macabeanum and help to explain the remark- 
able distribution of Falconeri. Like grande the new species 
which I have named Kingianum is also nearly allied to Falconeri, 
connecting these with argenteum and Hodgsoni, and we may 
thus fairly expect to find that not only are the Naga Hills and 
the Northern Burmah-Manipur mountains the true home of 
Falconert, but of the series to which we shall have to add other 
names besides grande and Macabeanum and Kingianum.” 
° Rhododendron Mackenzianum,* G. Forrest.+ (Stamineum.) 
Shrub or tree as much as 12 m. high with red bole about 
4 dm. in diameter and flaking bark ultimate branchlets straight 
* To my friend Miss M‘Kenzie of Rangoon.—G. Forrest. 
¢ Rhododendron Mackenzianum, G. Forrest—Frutex vel arbor ad 12 m 
altus ramis virgatis annotinis griseis glabris circ. 2 mm. diam. vetustioribus 
