Zeng Xiaolian (B. 1939) "Rhododendron Simsii" Watercolor. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the China 20fen Rhododendron stamp issued June 25, 1991. Born in 1939 in Yunnan Province, Zeng Xiao Lian is a talented Chinese artist. He worked as a senior engineer of the Botanical Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences. In addition, Zeng Xiao Lian received artistic training in Beijing. The artist has painted a series of beautiful botanical images of flowers and birds. These accurate detailed images have been published in more than fifty books, including "Flora of China", "Flora and Rhododendrons Yunnan" and others. Paintings by Zeng Xiao Lian participated in numerous national exhibitions in China, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia. Growing up to ten feet tall and possessing narrow oval-shaped leaves covered in bristly hairs, the R. simsii prefers mild climates and the greenhouse's controlled environment. Its broad funnel-shaped blossoms range in color from rose to dark red, and form clusters containing two to six flowers. Originally from China and Taiwan, the R. simsii is a parent plant of a hardy Indian Azalea hybrid. Although the Azalea is considered to be a subspecies of Rhododendron, many determined botanists still maintain the two plants are of entirely different classifications. Image Size: 8.75 x 12.25 in. Overall Size: 12 x 14 in.. Unframed (B13052)