799 
Polygonum vacdniifolium . (Polygonaceae . ) 39048. Seeds 
from Darjeellng, India. "Apparently a common Himalayan 
plant which has proved sufficiently hardy to bear the open 
air of this climate (England). It is a low-growing neat 
plant, and by its numerous slender stems trailing along 
the ground and rooting at the joints it soon becomes a 
spreading compact patch. The leaves are quite concealed 
by the copious spikes of bright rose-colored flowers, 
which continue blooming from August to November uninter- 
ruptedly. It is well adapted for the front part of rock 
work, In situations where it will not be subject to 
drought in summer. This plant continues to become a great 
favorite in our gardens as a bedding-out plant, especially 
where autumn flowers are desired." (Curtis 's Botanical 
Magazine, pi. 4622.) 
Rheum acuminatum. (Polygonaceae.) 39049. Seeds of 
wild rhubarb from Darjeellng, India. "This is the common 
rhubarb of the Sikkim Himalayas, and very closely resem- 
bles in most respects the well-known Rheum emodi. It in- 
habits rocky places, often amongst brushwood in the sub- 
alpine regions of the Himalayas of Sikkim and East Nepal, 
at elevations of 9000 to 13000 feet. The stems are pleas- 
antly acid, and, though more dry and stringy than those of 
R. emodi, may be used for tarts. The root is spongy, and 
but slightly, if at all, medicinal." (Curtis 's Botanical 
Magazine, pi. 4877.) 
Rheum nobile. ( Polygonaceae .) 39050 . Seeds of wild 
rhubarb from Darjeellng, India. "A handsome herbaceous 
plant, with a stem three to four feet high and as thick 
as the wrist at the base. It is found in the inner ranges 
of the Sikkim Himalaya at altitudes between 13000 and 
15000 feet. The root resembles that of the medicinal rhu- 
barb but is spongy and inert. The acid stems are eaten 
raw and boiled and the dried leaves afford a substitute 
for tobacco." 
Rhododendron spp. (Ericaceae.) 39051-068. Seeds of 
eighteen Himalayan rhododendrons from Darjeellng, India. 
R. campylocarpum and R. dalhousiae, considered as among 
the most beautiful and interesting of the Himalayan forms, 
R. anthopogon and R. lepidotum, two species used in Indian 
medicine, and the rare yellow-flowered R. wightii are among 
the lot. 
Saxlfraga purpurascens . . ( Saxif ragaceae . ) 39074 . Seeds 
of a saxifrage from Darjeellng, India. "This beautiful 
and hardy species comes from the temperate regions of the 
Sikkim Himalaya, where it was discovered growing in wet 
