30 TREES AND SHRUBS. 



usually solitary flowers, and by the purple anthers of the five to ten stamens. There are, however, some forms that have 

 generally been referred to Rhododendron Indicum which are most closely related to Rhododendron Kaempferi and 

 can be referred to this species as varieties ; these are : 



Rhododendron Kaempferi, var. Japonicum, n. comb. (Rhododendron Indnum, e amcenum, a Japonicum, Maxi- 

 mowicz MSm Acad. Sci. St. Petersburg, stv. 7, xvi. No. 9, 41). This plant differs from the type of Rhododendron 

 Kaempferi in its smaller leaves, scarcely more than 1.5 centimetres long, and m its smaller rosy purple flowers. It « 

 a low much-branched shrub. . . 



Japan- Kiu-siu, volcano Wunzen, Prov. Simabara, Maximowicz. The specimens from this locality were mixed, 

 according to Maximowicz, with individuals closely resembling the type of Rhododendron Kaempferi, but the one 

 specimen from Maximowicz in the Gray Herbarium represents the type of this variety. 



Rhododendron Kaempferi, var. amcenum, n. comb. (Azalea amvna Lindley, Paxton Flow. Gard. iii. t. 89. - 

 Rhododendron amcenum Planchon, 2<2. des Serves, ix. 80. — Rhododendron Indicum, e amcenum, Maximowicz, Mem. 

 Acad. Sci. St. Ptiersbolrg, ser. 7, xvi. No. 9, ±0.- Azalea Indica, var. amaena, Rehder Bailey Cycl. Am. Hort. i. 

 122) This is a garden form with smaller often obtusish leaves, and smaller flowers, with a double corolla. It was 

 found by Fortune in 1850 in the Azalea gardens near Shanghai and was sent by him to England. 1 It is now common 

 in the gardens of the United States and Europe. 



Although Rhododendron Kaempferi was figured and described by Kaempfer in 1712 in his Amcemtates Exotica 

 (p 846) it is one of the last of the plants related to Rhodendron Indicum introduced into cultivation, and it was not 

 until 1892 when Professor Sargent brought seeds of it to the Arnold Arboretum from his journey in Japan, that this 

 beautiful shrub became an inmate of American and European gardens. It has proved in New England the hardiest of 

 all the species and varieties of this race and has not been hurt by the severe winters of eastern Massachusetts, although 

 during unusually cold seasons the flower-buds are sometimes injured. For ten years this Rhododendron has flowered 

 profusely almost every year in the Arboretum, especially the plants in a large group at the northern base of Hemlock 

 Hill where in May, when they are covered with rich orange-red and pink flowers, they make a brilliant and beautiful 

 contrast with the dark background of the Hemlocks. A position like this, sheltered against the rays of the midday 

 sun suits this Rhododendron, as the flowers are liable to become discolored during warm and cloudless days. 

 Rhododendron Kaempferi is certainly one of the most beautiful spring-flowering shrubs which are hardy m New 

 England. Alfred Rehder. 



Arnold Arboretum. 



1 See Fortune, A Journey to the Tea Countries of China, 329. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 

 Plate CXIII. Rhododendron Kaempferi. 



1. A flowering branch, natural size. 



2. A flower with the corolla displayed, enlarged. 



3. An ovary, enlarged. 



4. A fruiting branch, natural size. 



5. A winter branch, natural size. 



