PINKSHELL AZALEA 



Azalea vaseyi (Gray) Rehder 



The pinkshell azalea is so charming in form and color that it de- 

 serves attention from flower lovers v^ho cultivate our native plants. 

 It prefers rather moist, acid soil, and yields easily to cultivation. The 

 corolla is so different in shape from that of other Azaleas that it is 

 considered by some botanists to belong to a distinct genus, named 

 Biltia in honor of George Vanderbilt. 



Pinkshell azalea has a narrow range, being found only at a few 

 restricted localities in the mountains of western North Carolina. For 

 many years nurserymen have been digging and shipping this species 

 from its native haunts, until it has been nearly exterminated as a wild 

 plant. Fortunately it can be propagated in acid soils from seed. 



The specimen sketched was grown by Dr. Paul Bartsch in his 

 garden in Washington, District of Columbia. 



PLATE ^53 



