Rhododendron arboreum
| Rhododendron arboreum | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Rhododendron arboreum flower |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Rhododendron |
| Subgenus: | Vireya |
| Species: | R. arboreum[1] |
Rhododendron arboreum (Tree Rhododendron) is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Rhododendron arboreum (Laligurans) is also the national flower of Nepal.
Contents |
[edit] Description
Its name means "tending to be woody or growing in a tree-like form". It has been recorded as reaching heights of up to 20 m,[2] although more usually it has a height and spread up to 12 m (36 ft) x 12 m (36 ft).
In early- and mid-spring, trusses of 15-20 bell-shaped flowers, 5 cm (2 in) wide and 3–5 cm (1.25–2 in) long are produced in red, pink or white. They have black nectar pouches and black spots inside.
[edit] Cultivation
It prefers moist but well-drained, leafy, humus-rich, acid soil, in dappled shade. It has broad, dark green leaves, 7–19 cm (3–7 in) long, with a silvery, fawn or brown hairy coating beneath.
This plant is suitable for woodland gardens.
Shelter is imperative to prevent wind damage to leaves.
[edit] Variants
- Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum has leaves with cinnamon-brown hairs beneath.
- Rhododendron arboreum subsp. zeylanicum rare ssp from the highlands of Sri Lanka, named after Zeilan, the name used by Arabian traders to refer to Sri Lanka.
- Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum var. album has white flowers with small blood red spots on the inner surface of the petals.
- Rhododendron arboreum subsp. delavayi has red flowers.
- Rhododendron arboreum Sm. subsp. nilagiricum (Zenker) Tagg is found in Tamil Nadu, India.[4]
[edit] Threats
Rhododendrons are susceptible to vine weevil, rhododendron and azalea whiteflies, leafhoppers, lacebugs, scale insects, caterpillars, aphids, powdery mildew, bud blast, honey fungus, rust, leafy gall, petal blight, silver leaf, phytophthora root rot and lime-induced chlorosis.[5]
-
Rhododendron arboreum in shola at Mukurthi National Park
-
Rhododendron arboreum at Biddulph Grange Gardens, 18 April 2009
-
Pink Rhododendron
[edit] References
- ^ Source: RBG, Edinburgh
- ^ "Tree rhododendrons". Richard Francis. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719144250/http://www.wildeel.com/rhodotree.html. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
- ^ P. F. Fyson, B.A., Indian Educational Service, F.L.S. Professor of Botany, Presidency College, Madras. (1915), The flora of the Niligiri and Pulney Hill-Tops (Above 6,500 Feet), Being the Wild and Commoner Introduced Flowering Plants Round the Hill-Stations of Kodaikanal, Ootacamund, Kotagiri and Kodaikanal, with 286 full page illustrations and 4 maps, II, Madras: Superintendent, Government Press, p. 179
- ^ Chamberlain, D. F. 1982. A revision of Rhododendron II. Subgenus Hymenanthes. Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 39:331.Rhododendron arboreum Sm. subsp. nilagiricum (Zenker) Tagg
- ^ The Royal Horticultural Society (2008) RHS Garden Hyde Hall Plant of the month: April, retrieved 2/19/2008 Gardens
