wes 
232 BALFOUR—RHODODENDRON : 
Anyhow it is a remarkably lovely plant covering the open high 
alpine slopes for miles in company with Farrer 1672 [ Rh. calox- 
anthum], Farrer 1669 [Rh. chaetomallum], Farrer 1627 [Rh. 
charitopes], Farrer 1620 forming an indescribable riot of colour. 
A small spreading bush of 3-9 inches with very large flowers 
typically of a most beautiful clear rose-pink, but varying to all 
the adjacent shades. (For a hybrid see Farrer 1731.) Farrer 
No. 1671. July 1920. 
The dried specimens confirm Mr Farrer’s expression regarding 
the beauty of this plant. The flowers are remarkably large. 
Mr Farrer refers to his No. 1184, a plant from the Chimili Alps 
at 12,900 ft. collected Aug. 3, 1919, the field ticket of which says 
‘‘Prevalent on the higher open slopes, a sturdy little bush 12 
inches high by 24 across, always neat and stocky with the leaves 
equally stiffly and neatly arranged. Al! the flower was over, but 
a lucky secondary bloom reveals it as very pretty—waxy or flesh 
white flushing to rose between the lobes and with the five glands 
at the base of deep carmine.’’ He suggests that No. 1184 1s the 
same species as 1671. It seems to be so but a much smaller form 
in the way of flower (Note—they are secondary flowers). 
Then Kingdon Ward under No. 3301 has sent a plant with the 
following field ticket :— 
N.E. Upper Burma. ‘‘Western spur of Imaw Bum. Alt. 
10,000-11,000 ft. Forms thick matted carpets on granite rocks 
or precipitous moss-covered slopes under the bamboos associated 
with Ward No. 3267, much less common than the latter. Sax- 
fraga purpurascens also growing with it. Leaves dark green 
above, light glaucous green beneath. A foot or less high. 
Flowers over. 2.7.10. 
22.7.19. A plant found in flower at about 12,000 ft. Very 
common towards the summit of Imaw Bum with Ward Nos. 3302, 
3303, 3365. Flowers bright crimson, no spots.” 
The flowers in Ward’s specimens are a little smaller than in 
Farrer’s Chawchi Pass plant. 
The plant is one that in the matter of underleaf covering be- 
longs to the Neriiflorum Series—being quite like Rh. neriiflorum 
in respect of it. Its leaf-shape and the squat truncate ovary with 
glabrous style suggest its place in the Sanguineum Series. If I 
place it here in Neriiflorum I am influenced by the consideration 
that the leaf must be seen whenever the plant is before one. Its 
character is therefore accessible, whilst flowers may be absent. 
Rhododendron araliaeforme, Balf. f. et Forrest. | 
Frutex ad 5 m. altus pauci-ramosus. Rami stricti in prima 
Juyentute dense rubro-glandulosi mox  glabrescentes, annotini 
glauco-purpurei circ. 3.5 cm. diam. glaberrimi axillis folioram 
