NEW SPECIES OF RHODODENDRON. 
BY 
ProressorR BAYLEY BALFOUR, F.R.S. 
Il. 
OF the species of Rhododendron which are described in this 
paper, all but five have been discovered by George Forrest during 
his botanical exploration of Yunnan and the bordering area of 
S.E. Tibet in the years 1917 and 1918, and I owe to Mr J. C. 
Williams, of Caerhays Castle, the privilege of having them for ex- 
amination. They are only a portion of the novelties in Forrest's 
collection: A description of others will fill many subsequent 
pages of these “ Notes.” Forrest has been collecting on the 
fringe of the chief centre of Rhododendrons in Asia. ‘‘ From the 
collections I have made,” he writes, “ it appears fairly ce1tain 
that the portion of the Mekong-Salween divide adjacent to 
Tsarong is richer in Rhododendrons than in species of any other 
shrubby or herbaceous genus.” Again, writing of the distribu- 
tion of Rhododendrons, he says: “ The flora of South-West 
Szechwan (meaning any of that country lying east of longitude 
100°) is poor in comparison to that of North-West Yunnan, 
especially in Rhododendrons. The whole lesson of my nine 
years’ exploration of this region is told in a very few words 
when speaking of that genus: Travel north-westwards and the 
species are ever on the increase, break eastwards or north and 
there is a marked decrease immediately! From some point 
north-east of Tsarong the genus spreads out in a fan-shaped drift 
south and south-east, gradually thinning off in numbers as low- 
lands or plains are reached.” All collections from West China 
confirm this broad generalisation. From the Tsarong many of 
the most beautiful of the Rhododendrons here described and to 
be described have been derived, and their habitats warrant 
the belief that they will be hardy in cultivation and not 
difficult plants to grow. It is unfortunate that for the moment 
Sino-Tibetan troubles make extended exploration in this rich 
region impossible. 
[Notes, R.B.G., Edin., Nos. LII-LIII, January 1919.) . 
Wt. 6105/142—375—8/19.—N. & Co., Ltd. Gp. 10. 
