Rhododendron

(ro-do-děn'drün.) [From Gr.rhodon, the rose, and dendron, a tree.] (Bot.) A gen. of showy plants, O. Ericaceæ. In their flowers the corolla is funnel-shaped, sometimes slightly irregular, five-lobed; and the stamens are ten in number, rarely fewer, and usually declined. The species are shrubs or low trees, with entire alternate leaves, and showy clusters of flowers. The plants of this genus have been long favorably known to cultivators, combining, as most of them do, beauty, profusene , and fragrance of flower with handsome foliage. Some also have the additional recommendation of bearing a succe ion of flowers for Fig. 560.- RHODODENDRON CATAWBIENSIS. a considerable time: R. Maddeni, for example, flowering for eight or more weeks. The flowers of R. Edge worth i attain a diameter of five inches, are white with a shade of delicate pink, and so fragrant that a few are sufficient to scent a large room. The snow-white flowers of R. Griffithianum present a beautiful contrast with the large leaves, six to twelve inches long, which are bright-green with a pale-yellow edge. R. Catawbiensis, the Catawba Rose-bay (Fig. 560), is plentiful in Virginia and the Carol in as, and R. maximum, also a splendid species, is found from New England to the mountains of the Carol in as. [s. 768] IMG:plate0813.jpg:Gravür