Rhodie

[…] the British squaddies look with faint contempt on the Rhodesians (or "Rhodies" as they sometimes call them; military slang mushrooms overnight).[…]

Remaindered from the Rhodesian war, all they have now is their ghosts inadequately repressed by extreme religion, alcohol, purple pills or a penchant for tearing down bars. Don't believe these guys don't exist. Spot them at the end of a Harare Rhodie bar or even worse stumbling towards you across the terrace of a bush hotel […]

The banging of rhodie leaves against one another and against other plants can damage them.

It was my first sight of Rhododendron griersonianum – a “dry soil rhodie”, according to Mr White – and Menziesia ciliicalyx, Clethra delavayi and Enkianthus pallidiflorus were fresh to my eyes.

It had dark green shiny leaves like a rhodie, but its flowers looked like giant purple pansies.