Rhododendron arboreum ssp. nilagiricum

Rhododendron arboreum Sm. subsp. nilagiricum (Zenker) Tagg, J. B. Stevenson, Sp. Rhodod. 15. 1930 (syn. (≡) Rhododendron arboreum var. nilagiricum (Zenker) C. B. Clarke; (≡) Rhododendron nilagiricum Zenker (basionym));
 
roh-do-DEN-dron -- rose tree, referring to flower color
ar-BOR-ee-um -- tree-like
¿ nil-uh-gi-REE-cum ? -- of or from Nilgiri Hills (TamilNadu, India)

commonly known as: Nilgiri rhododendron • Malayalam: അലഞ്ചി alanchi, കാട്ടുപൂവരശ് kattupuvaras • Tamil: பூவரசு puvaracu

Endemic to: Western Ghats (Nilgiris, Anamalai and Palani Hills of India) 

Trees, bark brown, rough, vertically shallowly fissured, flaking off in scales; branchlets stout. Leaves simple, alternate, clustered towards the tip of branchlets, estipulate; petiole 10-20 mm long, stout, tomentose; lamina 3.7-12.7 x 2.5-5 cm, oblong-ovate, oblong-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, base obtuse or round, apex obtuse, apiculate, margin entire, glabrous above, tomentose beneath; lateral nerves 8-14 pairs, pinnate, prominent, intercostae reticulate, faint. Flowers bisexual, dark crimson or pink, in terminal capitate racemes, rarely solitary or axillary; bracts broad, silky, cauducous; bracteoles linear; calyx lobes 5; corolla urceolate; lobes 5; stamens 10, free; filaments slender; anthers oblong; ovary superior, 5-celled, ovules many; style slender; stigma capitate. Fruit a capsule, oblong, woody; valves at length reflexed; seeds many.
Flowering and fruiting: February-June
Shola forests
Southern Western Ghats (endemic)
 
For ID 260610 ET : Attachments (3). 7 posts by 6 authors.
I took this Plant / flower picture during Nature camp to the Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve –in Avalanche- Kunda Forest Reserve-Mukurthi National Park.
This plant, less than 3 meter, I was told more than 300 years old, which is surprise to me. Though it was not flowering season I was searching for it. Finally I got one cluster of flowers on the way to Folding rocks.
Date/Time-13.5.10     ----11.30 am
Location- Place, Altitude, GPS- Avalanche- Kunda Forest Reserve-Mukurthi
Habitat- Garden/ Urban/ Wild/ Type- -----Wild
Height/Length- ----------------- 3 meter
Leaves Type/ Shape/ Size-----As seen in the picture
Flowers Size/ Colour/ Calyx/ Bracts- --    Cluster of flowers, colour as seen in the picture
Rhododendron sps.?
Can be Rhododendron barbatum Wallich ex G. Don
Could be Rhododendron nilgriciacum
It is Rhododendron nilagiricum (new name is R.arboreum var. nilagirica) of Ericaceae
Yes Sir. The ID is correct
The correct name of the plant is Rhododendron arboreum Sm. ssp. nilagiricum (Zenker) Tagg (Ericaceae)



 
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