0097 



AZALEA 



Family: RHODORACEAE. [Translator 's note: Azalea is now considered to be a 

 subgenus of Rhododendron. The latter name was instituted by Tournefort (see 

 translator's note under USES below). It includes the three species described below; their 

 current scientific names are indicated in brackets. Rhododendron is now assigned to the 

 family Ericaceae.] 



Reproductive system: PENTANDRY, MONOGYNY. 



THE WHITE SWAMP HONEYSUCKLE, Azalea viscosa, Linn. [=Rhododendron 

 viscosum] is a bush about a meter high. The leaves are a pleasant green color, lanceolate, 

 and feel rough to the touch along their margins. The flowers are white, sticky, hairy, and 

 are surrounded by a clump of leaves. In collections their color varies from red to pink etc. 

 characteristic of the many varieties of the same species. 



FLOWERS: June and July. 



RANGE: North America. This species acclimatized more than fifty years ago to 

 almost all of the gardens in France where it had been planted. 



NOMENCLATURE: German, der meybusch. Dutch, lymerige azalea. Swedish, 

 maybolester. English, the white sweet azalea. 



THE PINK AZALEA, Azalea nudiflora, Linn. [=Rhododendron nudiflorum, Torr.], is 

 an irregularly-shaped bush about a meter high. The oval leaves, smooth on top, are 

 gathered near the ends of the branches. The flowers vary from white to deep red. They 

 are slightly hairy and have extremely long stamens. 



FLOWERS: May and June. 



RANGE: North America, acclimatized in Europe. 



THE YELLOW (PONTIC) AZALEA, Azalea pontica, Linn. ^Rhododendron 

 ponticum, L.], is a bush about a meter high [Translator's note: ponticum is from the Latin 

 name for the Black Sea, the region where the tree grows]. The leaves are lanceolate, light 

 green, smooth, non-deciduous, and clustered at the tips of the branches. The yellow 

 flowers on peduncles form terminal clusters. They are large, fragrant, and very open. 



FLOWERS: in the spring. 



RANGE: around the Black Sea. 



NOMENCLATURE. German, der pontische felsenstrauch. Dutch, oostersche 

 azalea. Russian, odur cawkaski. Georgian, jmli. Azalea, from the Greek word meaning 

 dry or arid, indicating the area where this bush grows naturally. 



