62 THE RHODODENDRON. 



Rhododendron hhisutum. 



A low-growing species, and the most conunon of 

 the dwarf Rhododendrons. The leaves are small, 

 evergreen, thickly covered with rusty hairs; the 

 flowers pale red, in small clusters. 



Native of the Alps, and one of the flowers most 

 commonly sent home in collections of Alpine plants. 

 This and R. ferrugineum are known as the " Alpen 

 Rose." 



This plant is useful for the edges of beds of Amer- 

 ican plants, but is not showy. Figured in Bot. Mag. 

 43, t. 1853. 



Variety variegatum is a more showy plant than 

 the species, and the foliage variegated with yellgw 

 is very pretty. It can be readily obtained from 

 England, but is not common. 



Rhododendron ferrugineum. 



Although this plant and the last are considered 

 by some botanists as but varieties of one species, 

 the differences are quite sufficient to abundantly 

 distinguish them. The foliage of R. ferrugineum 

 is smooth above, rusty and dotted below, and far 

 larger than R. hirsutum ; the flowers are also much 

 larger, lighter-colored, and the habit of the plant is 

 taller. .The buds seldom open until other Rhodo- 

 dendrons, except R. maximum, are out of bloom; 

 and tins renders it a very valuable species. 



