AZA'LEA PONTICA. 
YELLOW, OR PONTIC AZALEA. 
Class Order. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
RHODORACEjE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Turkey. 
4 feet. 
May. 
Perennial. 
in 1793. 
No. 261. 
The term Azalea is derived from the Greek word 
azaleos, signifying dry, or arid, in allusion to the 
native situation of the plant ; but it is not very cor- 
rectly applied to this genus. Pontica, from Pontus, 
where this shrub is indigenous. 
It has long been supposed that the distinction, 
which is manifested by the Linnean system, between 
the Azalea and Rhododendron, must ultimately yield 
to natural laws ; and that these two genera would be 
found to coalesce. Experience has proved that they 
should really form but one genus. 
As very many hybrid or mule plants have been 
raised from seeds, which partake of characters be- 
longing in part to the Azalea, and in part to the 
Rhododendron, from which they originated, con- 
clusive evidence is afforded that the Linnean system 
of determining classes, by the number of stamens, is 
not infallible as a law of nature. This may be con- 
sidered one of the cases strongly favouring the views 
set forth in what is called the natural system of ar- 
rangement, which builds its distinctions on the con- 
sideration of several parts of the vegetable ; but this 
arrangement is not without its defects. 
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