4 THE RHODODENDRONS
Note. Difficult as it may be to define the characters of this species in words, yet we believe that no one can see
our native specimens in the herbarium without feeling assured that it is a distinct species, and truly different
from any found in the north of India. There is a peculiarity in the firm and hard texture of the broad foliage,
with its strongly recurved margins, and the deeply impressed venation and opake green colour; and a still stronger
distinguishing mark is in the almost globose strobilus, formed by the scales of the united flowers while in young
bud, and which is admirably represented in Dr. Wight’s plate above quoted. The nearest approach to this is
in the Rhododendron from Adam’s Peak and other mountains of Ceylon, which, I believe, has never been
described, though it has been considered, while there was believed to be only one tree Rhododendron in India, as
R. arboreum, and it is cultivated in nurseries under the name of R. Zeylanicum. This has darker foliage than
R. Nilagiricum, and is much larger in all its parts.
'20. R. nobile, Wall. Cat. n. 1521 (not 2, which is R. Nilagiricum).
H a b . Kamaon. Dr. Wdllich.
21. R. niveum, Hook. fil.; arbuscula vage ramosa, cortice fusco rugoso, ramulis pubescentibus, foliis obovato-lanceolatis
breve petiolatis obtusis v. subacutis super glaberrimis opacis subter petioloque tomento appresso niveo (rarius
fuscescente) lanatis, capitulis densissimis, pedicellis brevibus, calyce obsoleto, capsulis oblongo-cylindraceis
tomentosis utrinque obtusis 6-locularibus, valvis lignosis, seminibus pallidis.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya; rocky valleys and ridges, Lachen, Lachoong, and Chola; elev. 10-12,000 feet, not
unfrequent. FI. ? Fr. November.
A small rugged-barked tree, having the habit and general appearance of R. arboreum, with which and R.
Campbelliee it grows frequently intermixed, but may be distinguished, even at a distance, by the snow-white
under-surface of the leaf. On a closer inspection this is seen to be caused by an appressed flocculent tomentum,
occupying both surfaces of the very young leaf, and sometimes of a rusty-red hue. In the two quoted allies the
the leaf is narrower and the whitish hue or silvery lustre of the under-surface of the leaf is not removable, and'
is generally shining. The upper surface of the leaf of this is opake, but in R. CampbeUice, polished. . Capsules
of this shorter, more cylindrical, blunt, and straight. I have never known these species to pass into one another.
The present inhabits a much higher elevation than that usually occupied by R. arboreum. The flowers I have
never seen.
22. R ./o r a ow , Wall., PI. Asiat. Rar. vol. iii. p.,207. Hook. Rot. Mag. t. 4457. R. Gibsoni, Hortulan.
H a b . Mountains bordering on Silhet. Dr. Wdllich, Mr. Griffith, and Mr. Gibson.
23. R. campanulatum, Don, Wem. Trans, vol. iii. p. 409. Wall. Cat. n. 756. Hook. Rot. Mag. t. 1944.
H a b . Gossaing-Than in Nepal; and Kamaon. Wallich, Hamilton.
24. R. WaRichii, Hook. fil. T a b . V.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya; on spurs and in valleys of the inner and outer, ranges; elev. 11-13,000 feet. FI. June;
fr . October.
Note. Distinguished from R. campanulatum by the conspicuous calyx. Leaves ferruginous or olivaceous beneath
pubescent or villous. Capsules linear, slightly curved, nearly erect, woody, glabrous, .an inch to an inch and a
half long. Seeds pale.
25. R. Wightii, Hook, fil T a b . XXVII.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya. Elev. 12-14,000 feet.
OE SIKKIM-HIMALAYA.
26. R. lanatum, Hook. fil. T a b . XVI.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya, at Jongri and Chola, Elev. 10-12,000 feet.
27. ^.fulgens, Hook. fil. T a b . XXV.
I-Ia b . Sikkim-Himalaya. Elev. 12-14,000 feet.
28. R. eeruginosum, Hook. fil. T a b . XXII.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya. Elev. 12-14,000 feet.
29. R. campylocarpum, Hook. fil. T a b . XXX.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya. Elev. 11-14,000 feet.
V. Calyx short, coriaceous, 5-lobed or 5-dentate, lobes short, one (the upper) generally elongated, sometimes
subulate. Corolla funnel-shaped, tube narrowed, lobes rounded or acute. Stamens 10—20. Ovary 5-10-
celled.—Shrubs. Leaves lepidote beneath. Flowers closely capitate.
80. R. Maddeni, Hook. fil. T a b . XVIII.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya. Lachen and Lachoong valleys, very rare. Elev. 6,000 feet.
3 1 . R. cinnabarinum, Hook. fil. T a b . VIII.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya; chiefly in valleys and on the skirts of woods, elev. 10-12,000 feet, abundant. FI. June;
fr . November.
Note. Shrub six feet high, very elegant; branches and branchlets virgate. Corymb spreading. Peduncles half
an inch long. Flowers pendent. Capsules small, half an inch long, ovate, obtuse.-—One of the most elegant
species of the genus, but very inefficiently represented at our Tab. VIII. Its pendulous or drooping flowers,
when in perfection, are peculiarly graceful. It is universally considered poisonous to cattle and goats : of the
latter I have seen many die, from eating either of this or of a species of Andromeda-,—which latter is
notorious for this property throughout Sikkim, Nepal, and N. W. Himalaya. If employed for fuel, the smoke
of R. cinnabarinum causes the eyes to inflame and the cheeks to swell.
32. R. Roylei, Hook. fil. T a b . VII.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya. Elev. 10-11,000 feet.
Note. Very near, it must be confessed, to R. cinnabarinum.
VI. Calyx subfoliaceous, '¡¡-partite, lobes coriaceous or membranaceous. Tube of the corolla short, tinged a t the
base, the lobes patent, concave. Stamens 8-10. Style subclavate, short, decwrved, valid. Stigma
thickened, disciform. Ovary '¡¡-celled.—Shrubs, often small, epiphytes or terrestrial. Leaves (except in
R. pendulum) densely lepidote.
38. R. cameUiaflorum, Hook. fil. T a b . XXVIII.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya; generally pendent from the trunks of trees, sometimes rocks. Elev. 9-11,000 feet.