BALFOUR—NEW SPECIES OF RHODODENDRON. 261 
and he published no description. Had he been able to do so he 
would have seen that the differences which analysis brings out 
are pronouncedly specific. 
Rh. platyphyllum finds undoubtedly its nearest ally in Rh. 
cephalanthum, and if the size of its leaves is the most evident 
difference between the two species it is supported by many 
other differential characters which are not difficult to observe. 
Rh. cephalanthum is one of the species of small-leaved Rhodo- 
dendrons which retain for several years the outer leaf-bud scale- 
leaves. These cover more or less the branches and are sharp- 
pointed with prominent dorsal rib, showing the remains of the 
indumentum and marginal hairs that coated them at an earlier 
period. In Rh. platyphyllum we have the same persistence of 
leaf-bud scale-leaves, but the scale-leaves are broadly ovate or 
rounded with or without a keel and only apiculate. In the young 
condition the difference between the scale-leaves is extremely 
marked. Whilst those of Rh. cephalanthum have shaggy margins 
those of Rh. platyphylium are minutely ciliate. The bracteoles 
(prophylla) are diagnostic. In Rh. cephalanthum they are shorter 
and broader, reaching only about half way up the calyx; in 
kh. platyphylium they exceed in length the calyx. The flowers 
of the two species are no less different. Rh. cephalanthum has 
a campanulate slightly patent calyx which is some 8 mm. long 
about one-third the length of the corolla, its lobes are shaggy, 
often erose, the corolla has a long tube, and the lobes are only 
about 5 mm. broad more or less erecto-patent ; whilst in Rh. 
platyphyllum the calyx is cup-shaped with lobes about 5 mm. 
long about one-quarter the length of the corolla, and these 
which may also be erose have only a few longish hairs at the 
top; the corolla has a short tube with lobes about r cm. long 
which apparently are flat or even repand. 
See also p. 316. 
Ut\* Rhododendron praeclarum, Balf. f. et Farrer. 
Fruticulus parvus decumbens divaricatus ramosissimus. 
Ramuli annotini circ. 1 mm. diam. dense fusco-lepidoti vetus- 
tiores squamarum vestigiis sordidis vestiti tandem cinerei 
decorticantes corticem interiorem flavido-cinereum detegentes. 
Alabastrorum ovoideorum parvorum obtusorum perulae mox 
deciduae externae rotundatae spadiceo-brunneae paucae sub- 
carinatae circ. 5 mm. longae dorso lepidotae minutissime albo- 
ciliolatae interiores fuscae spathulatae obtusae ad 6 mm. latae 
squamis paucis latis dorso lepidotae apicem versus minute 
puberulae margine longe ciliatae. Folia crasse coriacea petiolata 
ad 2.5 cm. longa; lamina elliptica vel oblongo-elliptica circ. 
2 cm. longa 1 cm. lata apice obtusa mucrone longo terminata 
