Rhododendron.] XLVI. ERiCACBiE. 281 



1. E. axboreum, Sm. — Tree Rhododendron. Vern. Arddwal, Jhelam ; 

 Mandal, Chenab ; Chiu, dru, Eavi ; Bras, broa, burdns, burunsh, Bias to 

 Sardah ; Bhordns, guras, Nepal. 



A small tree ; leaves crowded at the ends of branches, coriaceous, 

 eUiptic-ohlong, acute at both ends, rarely obtuse, 4-6 in. long, glabrous, 

 shining above, with a dense silvery film of small scales beneath ; main 

 lateral nerves 15-25 on either side of midrib, prominent beneath, de- 

 pressed on the upper surface. Flowers commonly crimson-scarlet, occa- 

 sionally white piak or rose-coloured, or marked with purple or yellowish 

 spots, 1-2 in. long, on short peduncles in sessile, dense, many-flowered 

 terminal corymbs ; buds subglobose, covered with broad tomentose scales. 

 Calyx ,small, flat, persistent, with 5 spreadiag unequal teeth. Corolla- 

 between turbinate and campanulate, with 5 unequal lobes. Stamens 

 alternately longer. Capsules on thick, hirsute peduncles, \-\ in. long, 

 cylindrical, about 1 in. long, curved, 10-grooved, 10-celled. Seeds minute, 

 on bipartite placentae. 



Hills trans-Indus. Common on the outer ranges of the Himalaya from the 

 Indus to Bhutan, between 3000 and 8500 ft., ascending at times to 11,000. Does 

 not extend into the arid parts. Often associated with Quercus incana and 

 Andromeda. Never leafless, the foliage is renewed gradually. Time of flower- 

 ing varies, the usual period is March-May ; has been seen in flower during 

 winter, with snow on the ground. Again at times the blossoms do not come 

 out until June or July (Simla, 1849, 1867). Growth slow, 14 rings per inch. 

 Hardy at Kew in sheltered places. 



Attains 30-40 ft., with a short, often gnarled, not straight trunk, 7-8 ft. girth, 

 specimens of 15-17 ft. have been measured, but these large stems are always 

 hoUow. Bark 1 in. thick, chestnut brown, corky, rimose, wrinkled. Wood 

 light or dark brown, close-grained and hard, but not strong ; employed for 

 bmlding, made into dishes, and used for fuel and charcoal. Annual rings very 

 clear and distinct. Flower-buds and young leaves believed to be poisonous to 

 cattle. The flowers are eaten, and made into a pleasant subacid jelly; they are 

 at times intoxdcating. They are offered in temples, and are applied for headaches. 



R. nilagirimm, Zenker. — Syn. R. arboreum, Wight lo. t. 1201 ; Bedd. M. 

 Sylv. t. 228 ; on the Nilgiris, Pulneys, and Anamallays ; is closely allied, and 

 perhaps not specifically distinct. It has shorter and generally broader leaves, 

 with a rusty film beneath, and a broadly tubular or campanulate corolla-tube, 

 with a spreading, nearly flat limb. At high elevations in the N.W. Himalaya 

 R. arboreum is said to have a rusty, not silvery, fihn beneath. 



2. R. campanulatum, Don ; Bot. Mag. t. 3759. — ^Vern. Gaggar, yurmi, 

 Kashmir ; Samgar, shinwala, Eavi j Sha/rgar, Bias ; Simrung, Sutlej. 



A shrub ; leaves crowded at the ends of branches, coriaceous, elliptic 

 or eUiptic-oblong, 3-5 in. long, smooth, shining above, with a dense buff- 

 coloured film beneath ; midrib prominent, main lateral nerves indistinct. 

 Flowers whitish pink or lilac, 1-1^ in. long, on slender peduncles |-1 

 in. long, in sessile terminal corymbs. Buds subglobose, covered with 

 glabrous or pubescent scales. Calyx small, flat, persistent. Corolla 

 campanulate. Capsules cylindrical, about 1 in. long, curved, 5-6-celled, 

 5-6-valved. 



