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26.
RHODODENDRON CILIATUM, Hook.ju.
Ciliated Rhododendron.
T a b . X X IV .
Fruticulus rigidus, erectus, caulibus plnrixnis validis, ramulis pedunculis pedicdlisque hispido-pilosis, foliis ellipticis acuminatis coriaceis super
marginibus ciliato-pilosis senioribus glabratis subtus (costa excepta) glaberrimis pallidis creberrime ferrugineo-punctatis, pedicellis
validis subconfertis (2-5), calyce basi hispido, lobis late ovatis obtusis coriaceis, corolla campanulata pallide purpurea, staminibus
10, filamentis basi pilosis, stylo gracili, capsula brevi crassa calyce duplo longiore 5-loculari infra apicem contracta.
H ab. Sikldm-Himalaya, ixmer ranges only, in wet rocky places, rarely in woods. Lachen and Lachoong valleys; elev. 9 -1 0 ,0 0 0 feet.
FI. May ; fr. October.
A small very rigid shrub, growing in clumps two feet high, generally in moist rocky places. Odour faintly resinous
and pleasant. Whole plant more or less pilose and setose, the hairs long and fulvous on the- young leaves; petioles and
pedicels patent. Leaves two, rarely three inches long, sometimes obscurely cordate at the base. Upper surface (except in
age) pilose, even villous when young, underneath quite glabrous, covered with minute orbicular ferruginous scales. Bracteas
rather membranous, ciliated. Capitvla three- to five-flowered, terminal; pedicels very stout, one inch long; flowers inclined.
Sepals nearly equal, membranous, veined, ciliated. Corolla one inch and a half long, nearly as much across at the mouth;
tube rather contracted below, limb five-lobed, colour pale reddish-purple, upper lobe obscurely spotted. Anthers large.
Stigma exserted, capitate. Capsule woody, one-third to one-half of an inch long, suddenly contracted below the apex, each
of the five valves there recurved or beaked, the back covered with minute scales. Seeds pale-coloured.
Allied to JR. barbatum, but widely different in stature, habit, and the scattered scales on the under surface of the leaves.
X have not observed it in other valleys than those flanked by snowy mountains, where it is common, scenting the air in
warm weather.
The scales (as in many of its congeners) are orbicular, sessile, aud peltately attached, formed of three concentric series
of cells, the outer elongated in the direction of the radius. A dark concentric line marks the union of the circumferential
series of cells with those next to it. The fragrant oil is secreted chiefly in the discoid cell.
T ab. XXIV. Rhododendron ciliatum. Fig. 1. Stamen. 2 . Peduncle, calyx, and pistil. 3. Transverse section of ovarium. 4 . Fruit. 5 . Under
surface of portion of leaf. 6. Scales from the same:—magnified.