346 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



except that the leaves are delicately toothed and fringed, the lower side 

 covered with resinous dots. Hardy. Introduced from Switzerland, 165G. 

 Rh. Maddeni (Madden's). Stem 6 to 8 feet high, with erect 

 slender branches covered with rusty wool. Leaves lance-shaped, 5 to 7 

 inches long, footstalks and under-sides clothed with rusty scales. 

 Flowers funnel-shaped, 3 or 4 inches across, white; June to August. 

 Half-hardy. Introduced from Sikkim, 1850. Syn. R. Jenkmsii 



Rh. maximum (greatest). Great American Laurel. Stems 10 to 20 

 feet high. Leaves oblong-lance-shaped, nearly a foot long, very 

 leathery, the edges rolled slightly back, dusted beneath with rusty 

 powdery scales. Flowxrs bell-shaped, an inch across, white, or rosy and 

 white with yellow and purple-brown spots on the upper lobe ; in dense 

 terminal clusters ; July. Hardy. Introduced from North America, 1756. 

 One of the parents of the garden Rhododendrons. 



Rh. Nuttallii (Nuttall's). Trunk 15 to 30 feet high. Leaves 

 large, oval, leathery ; shining above, covered with brown scales beneath. 

 Flowers bell-shaped, white, tinged with rose, bright yellow centre, 6 or 

 7 inches across, fragrant ; in few-flowered corymbs ; May. Introduced 

 from Bhotan, 1859. 



Rh, ponticum (native of Pontus, Asia Minor). Stem with spread- 

 ing branches, 6 to 20 feet high. Leaves oblong-lance-shaped, pale or 

 rusty beneath. Flowers purple, the upper lobe often spotted: in 

 terminal corymbs; May. Introduced from Asia Minor, 1763. One of 

 the hardiest and most wadely-grown species. Used extensively for game 

 coverts, and as a stock for grafting tender species. Many varieties and 

 hybrids. 



Rh. Thomsoni (Thomson's). A twiggy bush with erect branches, 6 

 to 12 feet high, clothed with smooth purple bark and shining egg- 

 shaped leaves. Flowers, bell-shaped, nodding, rich crimson, in loose 

 terminal corymbs ; June. Hardy. Introduced from Sikkim, 1851. 



Rh. veitchianum (Veitch's). Stems 6 feet high. Leaves egg- 

 shaped, glaucous, 3 or 4 inches long; rusty, scaly beneath. Flowers 

 large, pure white, corolla-lobes waved and crisped ; May. Half-hardy. 

 Introduced from Moulmein, 1850. 



II. Malayan Rhododendrons : Parents of the most valuable race 

 of all for gi-eenhouse culture. 



Rh. brookeanum (Sir James Brooke's). Branches stout, dark 

 purple. Leaves long, oblong-lance-shaped, with short, broad purple 

 footstalks. Flow^ers deep orange, corolla-lobes crisped; April Stove 

 shrub. Introduced from Borneo, 1848. 



Rh. jasminiflorum (Jasmine-flowered). Stems branching, 2 feet 



