RHODODENDKON OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 349 



Resurrection Plant, a name given to Selaginella lepidopkylla, 

 a plant of the Club Moss family (Lycopodiaceae), native of 

 Mexico ; in the valley of the Eio Grande growing on rocks, 

 lying flat in the form of a rosette. It is of a vivid green colour, 

 and on the air becoming dry it rolls up like a ball, and expands 

 again on the approach of moisture. About forty years ago a 

 quantity of these plants was imported and sold in London under 

 the name of Eose of Jericho, but they afterwards became known 

 as the Eesurrection Plant. 



Revalenta Meal. {See Lentil.) 



Re ware wa, a New Zealand name for K'nightia excelsco, a 

 tree of the Protea family (Proteacese), attaining a height of 

 100 feet. It has handsome wood, which is used for furniture 

 and cabinet-work generally. 



Rhatany (^Krameria triandrd), a strong-rooted perennial 

 suffruticose plant of the Milkwort family (Polygalacese), native 

 of Peru. Its root is thick and fleshy, producing numeious 

 spreading, somewhat decumbent stems, leaves alternate, simple, 

 obovate, acuminate, and villose. The roots are highly astringent 

 and tonic, and used by the Indians for the cure of many com- 

 plaints ; and some years ago were largely imported by the 

 Spaniards and Portuguese for giving a red colour to wines, but 

 the article has now fallen into disuse, and very little is imported. 



Rhea Fibre. {8m Grass-cloth.) 



Rhododendron, a botanical name (now become familiarised) 

 of an extensive genus of trees and shrnbs of the Heath family 

 (Ericaceae), principally natives of the temperate countries of the 

 northern hemisphere, as also on elevated regions of India and 

 in the Malayan Archipelago. They vary considerably in habit 

 and size, some being trees with large broad leaves, others trail- 

 ing, partially epiphytal shrubs, and others heath -like. All 

 have showy, and many of them splendid flowers. iJ. ponticum 

 may be considered the type of the genus native of the Levant, 

 and become naturalised in Gibraltar, and with E. hirsuUim 

 and ferrnginemii, natives of the Alps, was introduced into this 

 country about the middle of the last century. The North 



