
Image: Wikimedia Commons (See link for license)
RhododendronπΈ
Rhododendron
γ·γ£γ―γγ²
A general term for species in the Rhododendron subgenus Rhododendron (elepidote rhododendrons). Mostly shrubs but some grow into trees. Native to high mountain zones, blooming large showy flowers from spring to early summer. National flower of Nepal and Pakistan. In Japan, Western hybrid cultivars are widely planted.
Identification Points
- βLeathery, glossy leaves clustered at branch tips
- βFlowers gather into large truss-like clusters
- βFlower colors include pink, white, red, and purple
Habitat
Mountains, subalpine zones, gardens
Season
April to June (flowers)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Simple
Growth form
Shrub
Evergreen/Deciduous
Evergreen
Flowering season
Spring
Habitat
Mountain
Phylogenetic PositionγγγΈη§ β
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core Eudicots > Ericales > Ericaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous (ca. 80 million years ago)
Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification