6 THE RHODODENDRONS
34. R. pendulum, Hook. fil. T ab. X n i.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya; pendulous from trees, generally, rarely from rocks. Elev. 9—11,000 feet.
85. R. obovatim, Hook. fil.; frutex ramosus, rani is ramulisque gracilibus, ramulis pedunculis calyce corolla extus petiolis
foliisque subtus (junioribus utrinque) sparse squamuloso-ferrugineis, foliis petiolatis obovatis basi in petiolum
angustatis apice rotundatis apiculatis vix coriaccis marginibus planis superne opacis subtus pallide oohraceo-
brunneis, pedunculis brevibus (fructiferis elongatis) terminalibus solitariis, calycis lobis foliaceis obtusis, corolla
rubro-purpurea (ut in R. lepidoto), staminibus 8, filamentis basi sericeo-villosis, ovario creberrime lepidoto, stylo
brevi crasso, capsulis conico-ovatis abrupte truncatis 5-sulcatis 5-locularibus, valvis lignosis lepidotis.
H ab. Sikkim-Himalaya; rocky places. Lachoong valley, 12,000 feet. JFl. June, and again partially in September;
Jr. November.
A small shrub, 8-4 feet high, much branched, and very resinous in odour. Branches as stout as a duck’s quill, not
tortuous, but much divided, the upper scabrid where once lepidote. Leaves plane, membranous for the genus,
of an opake green above and pale yellow-brown below, the costa slender, percurrent; lamina an inch and a
half long, half to three-quarters of an inch broad. Buds nearly globular; scales orbicular, coriaceous, brown,
downy on the outer surface, ciliated, the outer ones lepidote. Pedicels half to three-quarters of an inch long, one
to one and a half inch when in fruit, very lepidote, as is the calyx, base of the corolla, and ovarium, and fruit.
Corolla altogether like that of B. lepidotum. Capsules one-fourth to one-third of an inch long, about twice
the length of the persistent calyx-lobes.
The form and size of the foliage, and its glabrous upper surface, distinguish this well from JR. lepidotum.
[There is no original drawing of this species.—-JEdJ]
36. R. salignum, Hook. fil. T ab. XXIII. A.
H ab. Sikkim-Himalaya; above Choongtam. Elev. 7,000 feet.
37. R. elceagnoides, Hook. fil. (supra Ease. I. p. 8. n. 9). T ab. XXIII. B.
H a b . Sikkim-Himalaya; open rocky places. Elev. 12—16,000 feet.
38. R. lepidotum, Wall., Cat. n. 788. JRoyle, III. p. 260. t. 64. f. 1..
H ab. High mountains, Nepal, JDr. Wallich, JDr. JRoyle. Sikkim-Himalaya, elev. 12—15,000 feet, J. D. II.
Note. A small densely-tufted shrub, a foot or so high, allied to JR. elceagnoides and R. obovatim, with the flowers
always on very short petioles. Its common name is “ Tsaluma,” or “ Tsurna,” amongst the Bhoteas, and its
resinous odour is very strong, not unpleasant. The description in De Candolle (Prodr. v. 7. p. 724), if, as I do
not doubt, it refers to this plant, is very erroneous. The leaves cannot be called “ ferruginous below,” in the
same sense as applied to R. anthopogon, &c.; nor are there any setae or cilia at the bases of the leaves; nor have
I observed more than eight stamens, the typical number in this very distinct group, which includes R. salignum,
R. obovatum, and R. elceagnoides. The flowers vary from very fine red to a dingy yellow.
VII. Calyx subfoliaceous, hpartite or 5-lobed, lobes short, rounded. Tube of the corolla short, fwnnel-shaped, lobes
of the limb elongated, narrow, spreading, entire. Stamens 8, exserted: filaments elongated, slender. Style
slender, much exserted. Ovary 'ó-celled.—Lepidote shrubs.
39. R. triflorwm, Hook. fil. T ab. XIX.
H ab. Sikkim-Himalaya. Elev. 7-9,000 feet; scarce.
OF SIKKIM-HIMALAYA.
40. R. vvrgatvm, Hook, fil; T a b . XXVI. A.
H ab. Sikkim-Himalaya; skirts of Pine-forests. Elev. 8-9 ,0 0 0 feet.
41. R. nivale, Hook. fil. T a b. XXVI. B.
H ab. Sikkim-Himalaya; on the loftiest bare slopes on the Thibetan frontier. Elev. 1 6 -18,000 feet.
42. R. setosum, Hook. fil. T a b . XX. •
H ab. Sikkim-Himalaya; open stony and rocky places. Elev. 1 8 -16,000 feet.
VIII. Calyx Aphyllous, lobes membranaceous. Corolla hypocrateriform, tube narrow, cylindrical, limb plane,
patent. Stamens 6-8, included. Style short, clavate. Ovary 5-celled.—Small lepidote shrubs.
48. R. anthopogon, Don, Trans. Wem. Soc. vol. iii. p. 409. JBJooh. Bot. Mag. t. 3947. R. aromaticum, Wall. Cat. n. 1520.
H ab. Gossaing-Than, Nepal, and Kamaon, Wallich, Hamilton; Sikkim-Himalaya: rocky, open, especially
gravelly places, abundant. Elev. 12—16,000 feet.
Note. A strongly and fax more disagreeably and heavily odorous plant than R. setosum. This, the Palu of the
Bhoteas, shares with the Tsallu {JR. setosum) the blame of exciting the headache and nausea attending ascents to
the dreaded elevations of the Eastern Himalaya. In the Herbarium its permanent odour is more disagreeable
than that of any of the genus. Nothing, however, can exceed the beauty of its flowers, whether .we consider the
exquisitely tender, membranaceous, translucent texture of the corolla, with its delicate nervation, or the rich blush
of the first opening blossoms, which insensibly passes into snowy white, then faintly tinged with sulphur—all
colours seen on one and the same plant.