Rhododendron arboreum

Rhododendron arboreum
Rhododendron arboreum flower

at Mukurthi National Park

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron
Subgenus: Hymenanthes
Species: R. arboreum[1]

Rhododendron arboreum, the tree rhododendron,[2] also known as burans or gurans, is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Rhododendron arboreum is the national flower of Nepal; in India it is the state tree of Uttarakhand and state flower of Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

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,[3] although more usually it has a height and spread up to 12 m (36 ft) x 12 m (36 ft). This plant holds the Guinness Record for World's Largest Rhododendron. The tree discovered in 1993 at Mt. Japfü in Kohima district of Nagaland, India, holds the Guinness Record for the tallest Rhododendron at 108 ft measured at the time of discovery which is still growing.

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.

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.

Variants

Rhododendron arboreum from Fyson[4]

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.[6]

In Sri Lanka

The plant is known as Maha ratmal, Maha Rath Mal, Asela mal in Sinhala. The Sinhalese name "rathmal" is mostly used for the Ixoras, which are not in this family. However, the Rhododendrons are not a common plant in Sri Lanka, and the unsystematic local name seems to be"Maha-rathmal", i.e., "Big-Ixora", applied to smaller varieties which are more like ornamental Azelias. Hence the name "asela-mal", probabaly adapted from "Azelia" by horticulturists, may be more appropriate.It prefers a colder dry climate than what is available in most parts of Sri Lanka.

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References

  1. ↑ Source: RBG, Edinburgh
  2. ↑ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. ↑ "Tree rhododendrons". Richard Francis. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  4. ↑ 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
  5. ↑ 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
  6. ↑ The Royal Horticultural Society (2008) RHS Garden Hyde Hall Plant of the month: April, retrieved 2/19/2008 Gardens
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