RHODODENDRON (Gr. rose-tree), a genus of trees and shrubs of the natural order ericem, having 10 stamens, a very small calyx, a bell-shaped or somewhat funnel-shaped corolla, and a capsule splitting up through the dissepiments. The buds in this and nearly allied genera, as azalea (q.v.), are scaly and conical. The species are numerous; they have evergreen leaves, and ninny of them are of great beauty both in foliage and in flowers. A few small species are natives of continental Europe and of Siberia; but the greater number belong to the temperate parts of North America, and to the mountains of India. R. so designated when the far larger Indian species were unknown, is common in Britain as an ornamental shrub. It is it large shrub or small tree, which forms impenetrable thickets on ninny parts of the Alleghany mountains, and has a magnificent appearance when in flower. The leaves are large, oblong, acute, stalked, leathery, dark-green and shining above, rusty brown beneath. The flowers are large, in umbellate corymbs, varying in color from pale carmine to lilac. This species is quite hardy in Britain; as is also R. pontieum, is very similar species, with narrower and more pointed leaves, which are of the same color on both sides, a native of western Asia, and apparently also of the s. of Spain. R. eatawbiense, a native of the southern parts of the Alleghanies, with large purple flowers; R. Caueasicam, the name of which indicates its origin; and R. aborevnt, a native of Nepaul, with very dense heads of large scarlet flow ers, and leaves 4 to 6 in. long, attaining in its native country a height of 30 or 40 ft., are also fine species, and well known. Most of the extremely numerous varieties now com mon in our gardens and shrubberies have been produced from them by hybridizing or otherwise.—Many splendid species of rhododendron have recently been discovered in the Himalaya, the Khasm hills, and other mountainous parts of India, by Dr. Hooker and others; and sonic of them have begun to be introduced into cultivation in Europe. It is impossible for us to notice more than a few. R. Faleoneri is described as in foliage the most superb of all, the leaves being 18 or 19 in. long. It is a tree 30 to 50 ft.. high, with leaires only at the extremities of the branches. It grows in eastern Nepali] at an altitude of 10,000 feet. R. argenteum has flowers 4 in. long, and equally broad, dims:
tered, and very beautiful. R. Maddeni, R. Aye/dant:Hi, R. Edgezeoraii, and others, have white flowers. • R. Dalltousim is remfirkable as an epiphyte, growing on magnolias, rels, and oaks. It is a slender shrub, bearing from 3 to 6 white lemon-scented bells, 4+ • in. long, at the end of each branch. R. Nuttalli has fragrant white flowers, said to, be larger than those of any other rhododendron. All these belong to the Himalaya. In more southern latitudes, as on the Neilgherry hills and on the 'mountains of Ceylon, R. Mobile prevails, a timber tree 50 to 70 ft. high, every branch covered with a blaze of dim-. son flo•ers.—/?. Keysii and R. Thibandiense, also natives of the n. of India. have flowers with nearly tubular corolla.—R. ferrugineam and R. kirsutum are small species, shrubs from I to 3 ft. in height, natives of the Alps, and among the finest ornaments of alpine scenery. They are called alpenrose (alpine rose) by the Germans. They are not easily cultivated in gardens. They have small carmine-colored flowers in umbellate The mountain slopes glow with their blossoms in July and August. The flora of the Himalaya contains a number of similar small species. R. a uthopogon and R. .setosum, dwarf shrubs with strongly-seented leaves, clothe the mountains in eastern Nepaul at an elevation of 12,000 ft. and upward, with a green mantle, brilliant with flowers in sum mer. R. niva/e is the most alpine of woody plants, spreading its small woody brandies close to the ground, at an elevation of 17,000 ft. in Sikkim. R. lapponieum, a pro cumbent shrub, with small flowers, grows as far n. !us human settlements have reached in Europe, Asia, and Ameriem—Some of the species of this genus possess narootie prop erties. An oil obtained from the buds of R. ferroginenut and R. hirsut on) is used by the inhabitants of the Alps, tinder the name 0110 #1 zuarifiotta. as a remedy for ptifils id the joints, gout, mid stone. R. ehrusanthum. a low shrnb. with golden yellow flowers, native of Siberia, is also used in gout and rheumatism. R. einnabarirrum, a Iliznalayan species, poisons goats which feed upon it, and when used for fuel causes influmnation of the face and eyes. But ilte flowers of R. arboreum are eaten in India, and Europeans make a pleasant jelly of them.