32 
THE SIKKIM RHODODENDRONS. 
and the smoke of the wood when employed as fuel causes the eyes to inflame and the cheeks to swell. R. JRoylei 
(J. D. H.); plate 7 ; a small shrub, with neat oval leaves, rusty beneath, and small heads of rosy coppery-tinged 
flowers, tipped with blue in the bud, and growing at an elevation of 10 to 11,000 feet, is a variety. 
YI. Calyx subfoliaceous, five-partite. Tube of the corolla short, tinged at the base, the lobes patent concave. 
Stamens 5 —10. Style subclavate. Ovary 5-celled. Shrubs often small, epiphytes or terrestrial, with 
leaves densely lepidote (except in R. pendulum). 
R. camelliceflorum (X. D. H.). Plate 28.—A small slender shrub, pendulous from trees or rocks, with elliptic 
leaves, brown and dotted beneath with rust-coloured scales, and producing from the ends of the shoots two or three 
abnormal white flowers, which in form resemble those of a single Camellia. Elevation 9 to 10,000 feet. 
R. pendulum (J. D. H.). Plate 13.—A small pendulous epiphytal species, with small white flowers growing 
two or three together from the top of the shoots. Elevation 9 to 11,000 feet. 
R. salignum (J. D. H.). Plate 23a. —A pretty diminutive shrub, two to four feet high, with small narrow 
leaves, the branches terminated by a few shallow spreading yellow flowers. Elevation 7,000 feet. Dr. Hooker 
now combines under the name of R. lepidotum (Wallich), this, R. obovatum , and the following : — R. elceagnoides 
(J. D. H.); plate 23b ; a charming diminutive plant, growing in clumps like heather, the small leaves arranged in 
semi-rosettes, and the broad shallow flowers more like a Cistus than an ordinary Rhododendron, varying in colour 
from yellow to purple. Elevation 12 to 16,000 feet. 
YII. Calyx subfoliaceous five-parted or lobed, lobes short rounded. Tube of corolla, short funnel-shaped, lobes 
of limb elongated, narrow spreading entire. Stamens 8. Style slender. Ovary o-celled. Lepidote 
shrubs, with Azalea-like flowers. 
R. virgatum (J. D. H.). Plate 26a. —A small glaucous shrub, growing four feet high, and producing small 
purplish red flowers. Elevation 8 to 9000 feet. A variety of this is the R. triflorum (J. D. H.); plate 19; which 
forms a small shrub, four to six feet high, bearing pale greenish-yellow flowers in threes at the end of the branches, 
and grows at an elevation of 7 to 9000 feet. 
R. nivale (J. D. H.). Plate 26b. —A small depressed shrub, spreading to a foot or two in diameter, with 
woody branches, bearing small leaves, and small rosy flowers. “ The latest to bloom, and earliest to mature its 
seeds, by far the smallest in foliage* and proportionally largest in flower, most lepidote in vesture, humble in 
stature, rigid in texture, deformed in habit, yet the most odoriferous ; it may be recognised even in the herbarium 
as the production of the loftiest elevation on the surface of the globe—of the most excessive climate—of the joint 
influences of a scorching sun by day, and the keenest frosts at night—of the greatest drought, followed in a few 
hours by a saturated atmosphere—of the balmiest calm, alternating with the whirlwind of the Alps.” Its odour 
resembles that of eau-de-cologne. This species grows at an elevation of 18,000 feet, far above the ordinary 
limit of phaenogamic vegetation. 
R. setosum (Don). Plate 20.—A diminutive and elegant plant, from a span to a foot high, with small coria¬ 
ceous leaves, and very numerous scattered lively rosy-purple flowers. Elevation 13 to 16,000 feet. It has a 
good deal the aspect of Rhodora, but the flowers are more copious and brighter, and the foliage is box-like and 
evergreen. “ The Sikkim Bhoteas and Thibetians attribute the oppression and head-aches attending the crossing 
of the loftiest passes of Eastern Himalaya to the strong resinous odour of this and R. antliopogon. The species 
certainly abounds to within a few miles of the summit of all the passes, and after hot sunshine fills the atmosphere 
with its powerful aroma, too heavy by far to be agreeable.” A useful volatile oil would probably be yielded by 
distillation of the foliage. 
2 
• | 
The most striking species among the foregoing are:— JR. JDalhousice, Maddeni, JEdgeworthii , and 
Griffithii, which are remarkable for their very large white flowers, the latter differing from the 
others in its shallow-cupped form ; R, argenteum on account of its fine foliage and compact heads of 
white flowers; R. Falconeri and Hodgsoni for their peculiarly dense globular inflorescence, and large 
broad blunt leaves ; R.Thomsoni and fulgens for their rich blood-coloured flowers; R. glciucum for its 
neat habit, glaucous leaves, and pretty pink blossoms; R. campy locarpum, Wiglitii, and lanatum, for 
them sulphur-coloured flowers ; and R. elceagnoides, salignum, virgatum, nivale, and pumilum for their 
small size, and general dissimilarity from the ordinary aspect of Rhododendrons. 
Setting aside the question of cultivability, which can only be settled by experience, and admitting 
all the larger growing species to be—if cultivable—fine conservatory ornaments, we should select as 
the most distinct and promising for general cultivation, the following species :— R. Thomsoni, fulgens, 
JDalhousice, Maddeni, TVightii, glaucum, campy locarpum, and Griffithii. It may be worth while to 
add, as an encouragement to cultivators, that two at least of the species— R. barbatum and Campbellice , 
have been successfully cultivated in this country, as also has been the epiphytal R. javanicum. 
Some of the species naturally inhabit what may be called the temperate regions of the Himalaya, 
while others occur only within the alpine range, and some even rise above that to the arctic region 
and approach the perpetual snow. It will, therefore, be manifestly improper that they should all be 
treated alike, without reference to these peculiarities.—M. 
