Plate 18. 
AMILCAR RHODODENDRON. 
Rhododendron catawbiense fhybj. 
A very fine hardy Rhododendron, raised by Mr. Standish, nur¬ 
seryman, of Bagshot, who is well known as a most successful 
grower of this race of plants, and the fortunate raiser of a con¬ 
siderable number of the finer varieties now in cultivation. The 
new kind here figured, was, we learn, raised between a variety 
called Blondyanum , one of the hybrids obtained from cataw- 
biense , and a variety of Queen Victoria , which is a hybrid from 
ponticum piirjmreum. It is, however, much more richly spotted 
than either of its parents. 
The Amilcar Rhododendron is a vigorous hardy evergreen 
shrub, having deep-green leaves of the usual elongated form, 
and of a firm coriaceous texture. The flowers are borne in 
large terminal clusters, and are exceedingly rich and effective. 
They are individually of large size, and of a broad open or shal¬ 
low, almost rotate form, firm in texture, divided at the margin 
into five segments, wdiich are broad and rounded in outline. 
The colour is a deep bright violet-purple, having a slight red¬ 
dish tinge, quite distinct from the common purples met with in 
this family, and remarkably attractive. The upper or dorsal 
segment of the corolla is marked about the centre with a large 
patch of intense black spots, which render the flowers much 
more attractive. 
This variety was exhibited by Mr. Standish, in May last, be¬ 
fore the Horticultural Society’s Floral Committee, and received 
from that body a first-class certificate, as a distinct and remark¬ 
ably showy new kind. Mr. Standish describes it as a remark- 
Plate 18.—Thododexdeox catawbiexse (hyb.) Ahilcae : flowers large, 
rich deep violet-purple, marked in the centre of the upper segment with a 
thick blotch of intense black spots. 
