[Plate 22.] 



THE KAMTCHATKA RHODOTHAM. 



(rhodothamnus KAMTCHATICUS. ) 



A Hardy Evergreen Dwarf Shrub, Native of Eastern Siberia, belonging to the Order of 



Heathworts. 



Specific Character, 



THE KAMTCHATKA EHODOTHAM.— Leaves oblong and obovate, fringed with coarse hairs, thin, blunt, tipped 

 with a conspicuous gland. Sepals obovate, blunt. Corolla purple, with rounded lobes. 



Rhododendron Kamtchaticum : Pallas, Fl. Ross., I., p. 48, t. 33. 



FOR this exquisitely beautiful shrub we are indebted to Mr. Loddiges, whose predecessors 

 raised it from seed about forty-five years ago. It appears to be of slow growth, 

 forming a compact bush, and is admirably adapted for rock-work in a shady situation. 



According to Pallas, this charming plant grows abundantly near the sea of Ochotsk, in 

 the peninsula of Kamtchatka, and in Behring Island in muddy mountainous places. There 

 it begins to blossom from the end of July, grows vigorously to the end of August, and 

 ripens its seeds about the end of September. The root, he says, is woody, dry, as thick as 

 a quill, and forms creeping runners. From this arise a great many leafy stems, which every 

 here and there break into flower. The leaves are close together, alternate, sessile, somewhat 

 ovate, tapering downwards, somewhat five-nerved, rather sharp-pointed, perfectly entire, 

 and fringed with very perceptible hairs. The peduncles are two or three inches long, closely 

 surrounded by small leaves, besides which there are generally about two ovate sessile leaves; 

 they are two-flowered, or occasionally one to three- flowered, and very hairy. The flowers are 

 nodding, and deep purple. The sepals leafy, three-nerved, two being nearer to each other than 

 to the others. The corolla is irregular, rotate, with a very short funnel-shaped tube, and a deeply 



