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DIAGNOSES SPECIERUM NOVARUM. 287 
the base of cliffs. Shrub of 2-3 ft. Flowers white with a few 
crimson markifigs. Forrest 19,185. Aug. 1919. 
The earlier specimens received of this plant led one to Kh. 
Roxieanum, G. Forrest and it is a very near ally but not the same 
species. It is the Mekong-Salween representative of that plant 
which is a Chungtien species, i.e., we have in Rh. poecilodermum 
the western representative of the eastern Rh. Roxieanum. The 
differences are perhaps small but I am satisfied the plants are 
distinct. The most evident character is the underleaf indu- 
mentum and its mottled character is a valid distinction from the 
concolorous scarlet indumentum of Rh. Roxieanum. But this 
colour is not the only difference. Both are bistrate but the hairs 
of the upper stratum in Rh. poecilodermum are softer looser 
flattened with thinner walls and want the resilience of those of 
Rh. Roxieanum where they are stiffer with thicker walls and are 
more dendriform in branching altogether shorter and their tips 
are sometimes tendrilloid. The leaf here is larger on the whole 
‘and has broader basal lebes and much shorter and not so broad 
petiole. The midrib below is narrower. The bud scales are 
different. In the flower the pedicels are shorter and less clad 
and the ovary has a loose whitish indumentum. 
Forrest sends under 167234 a specimen of which he says ‘“‘may 
be the same as 16723 but differs in stature, size of all parts, colour 
of tomentum and in flower markings.’ It was gathered same 
date same locality and environment as 16723. As the specimens 
appear in the dried state I am unable to discriminate between 
them. 
Rhododendron porphyroblastum, Balf. f. et Forrest. 
Frutex ad 1.5 m. altus. Rami crassi 5 mm. vel ultra diam. 
nitentes 1.5 cm. longae 1 cm. latae basi et circum apiculum 
tomentosae intimae membranaceae ligulatae acutae circ. 5 cm. 
longae 4 mm. latae persistentes. Folia petiolata ad 13 cm. longa ; 
lamina crasse coriacea rigida oblongo-obovalis vel oblongo-ovalis 
ad 11 cm. longa 4 cm. lata, apice breviter rostrato-apiculata mu- 
crone tuberculato sessili terminata, margine cartilaginea recurva 
asi obtusa saepe inaequilateralis ; supra juvenilis pilis detersili- 
bus dense rufo-tomentosa, adulta glabra subnitida (costa media 
sulcata pilorum vestigiis impleta excepta) laete viridis nunc sub-— 
purpurascens basi circa costam mediam rufescens in modum 
squali cori subrugulosa venis primariis utrinsecus ad 12 subim- 
pressis - subtus juvenilis roseo-tincta, adulta rubra indumento 
Ag 
