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THE TEXAS AZALEA
Two further geographic possibilities remained for this fascinating plant, the southward extension of the Cumherland Plateau south of the Tennessee River in North Central Alabama and — a very long shot — the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma which has azaleas and certain interesting representatives of other eastern plants. The next day, June 20th, was spent in the R. alabamense hills of Cullman and Winston Counties, but only late forms of the latter species were found, no Cumberland Azalea since the hills are perhaps too low and, strangely, not even any R. arborescens, which had been expected.
No collections were made on the long drive through,Hot Springs, Arkansas to Mt. Ida for the night but luck was better during the next two days coverage of the principal mountain peaks of the Ouachita and Boston Mountains, the length of Rich Mountain and adjacent LeFlore County, Oklahoma, impressive Magazine Mountain, Flat Top Mountain and northerly White Rock Mountain in Franklin County, Arkansas. There was no Cumberland Azalea as had been vaguely hoped but local R. oblongifolium, the Texas Azalea, was found in several places with sufficient plants still in flower for at least representative collections. This generally white and rather small flowered species is confusing in that it so frequently grows side by side with a pubescent-leaved pink azalea akin to R. roseum, and evidently breeds with it; the white form may be more adapted to moist valley sites and the other to drier hillside slopes but the line of preference is not strong. There is needed an earlier season and more careful study of these Ozark plants than was possible in this too rapid survey.
On the third morning in Arkansas, on June 24th, the car was again headed back towards the now-passing eastern azaleas. It chanced to be a Sunday, with Sunday drivers in slow lines on the highways but nevertheless nearly 600 miles were covered before nightfall in eastern Kentucky. No azaleas were collected; none was seen and they were doubtless sparse to nonexistent over most of the rich agricultural land traversed.
Though not realized at the time. distinctive qualities of the Flame Azalea of the Nantahala region have previously been pointed out by Braun in The Red Azalea of the Cumberlands, Rhodora. 43: 33. 1941.
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