169 
RHODODENDRON CHAM JECISTUS. 
(ground-cistus rhododendron). 
ORDER. 
MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
RHODORACE^. 
Generic Character — Calyx five-parted. Corolla funnel or bell-shaped, with a five-parted limh, the 
upper part of which is the broadest, and generally spotted. Stamens various, from five to ten, 
usually longer than the limb, and always curved inwards (declinate). Anthers opening by two 
terminal pores. Capsule in five cells and five valves, rarely more as in R. arboreum,. 
Specific Character. — Plant a dwarf shrub. Leaves small, of an oblong-lanceolate shape, somewhat 
attenuated at both ends, and glandularly ciliated ; that is, they have eye-lash-like hairs round the 
edges. Flowers usually two together, sometimes three, issuing from the end of the branch. 
Flower-stalks clothed with glandular hairs. Calyx of an ovate shape, also beset with glandular 
hairs. 
This humble but pretty little plant in its gTowth resembles more a species of 
" Helianthemum" or Thymus,'" than any of its native family ; and so striking- is 
the similarity existing- between the leaves of this species and those of the plants 
comprised in the genus " Thymus" that in the Encyclopedia of Plants we find it 
designated by the term Thyme-leaved, as conveying the most familiar idea of the 
shape of the leaves. Nor would it be very surprising if a person were to mistake 
it for a species of thyme ; its short, partially prostrate, and tufted branches, 
approximate so nearly to that genus. But how great is the contrast when in 
bloom ; instead of small insignificant flowers produced on a short spike, as in 
thymus, we have, at the extremity of the strongest branches, two or three showy 
flowers, consisting of five ovate lobes of a delicate pale pink colour, at the base of 
which, and surrounding the organs of fructification, is a circle of lively pure pink, 
and immediately from the centre emanate the stamens and pistil ; thus by the 
anthers of the former, and the stigma of the latter, a picture of elegance and grace- 
fulness is produced, which suggests the following sublime sentiments : 
" Infinite God, thou great, unrivalled One, 
Whose glory makes a blot of yonder sun I 
Compared with thine how dim his beauty seems ! 
How quenched the radiance of his golden beams ! 
VOL. III.— NO. XXXII. Z 
class. 
DECANDRIA. 
