Terminology from the Sleumer (1949) system is frequently found in older literature, with five subgenera and is as follows; In the later traditional classification, attributed to Chamberlain (1996), and as used by horticulturalists and the American Rhododendron Society,[44] Rhododendron has eight subgenera based on morphology, namely the presence of scales (lepidote), deciduousness of leaves, and the floral and vegetative branching patterns, after Sleumer (1980). Extensive information on rhododendron species: the history of their discovery, botanical details, toxicity, classification, cultural conditions, care for common problems, and suggestions for companion plants by Steve Henning. Rhododendron is regarded as the national flower of Nepal. The industry is promoted by the state government with tax benefits, looking to promote this industry as a full-fledged subclass of its economy. Their work was more supportive of Sleumer's original system than the later modifications introduced by Chamberlain et al..[2][41]. Of the remaining three sections, monotypic Viscidula was discontinued by moving Rhododendron nipponicum to Tsutsusi (C), while Rhodora (2 species) was itself polyphyletic and was broken up by moving Rhododendron canadense to section Pentanthera (B) and Rhododendron vaseyi to section Sciadorhodion, which then became a new section of subgenus Azaleastrum (C). Rhododendron - The National Flower of Nepal The excellence of the blossoming rhododendrons attracts a huge number of trekkers to Nepal consistently. The species in New Guinea are native to subalpine moist grasslands at around 3,000 metres above sea level in the Central Highlands. The name Rhododendron comes from the combination of two ancient greek word rhodon which means rose and dendron which means tree. R. ponticum is the state flower of Indian-administered Kashmir and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Following the cladistic analysis of Goetsch et al. Similarly the single species in monotypic subgenus Mumeazalea (Rhododendron semibarbatum) was placed in the new section Tsutsusi, subgenus Azaleastrum. People have been known to become ill from eating honey made by bees feeding on rhododendron and azalea flowers. Your email address will not be published. Apart from it’s beauty, the flower is edible and can be made into delicious juice, wine and pickles. This flower is well known everywhere throughout the nation and it is the local flower of … It includes the plants known to gardeners as azaleas. Newer Post Older Post Home. Other significant areas of diversity are in the mountains of Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Most have been bred for their flowers, but a few are of garden interest because of ornamental leaves and some for ornamental bark or stems. Large-scale commercial growing often selects for different characteristics than hobbyist growers might want, such as resistance to root rot when overwatered, ability to be forced into budding early, ease of rooting or other propagation, and saleability. Amongst the Zomi tribes in India and Myanmar, "Rhododendrons" called "Ngeisok" is used in a poetic manner to signify a lady. The blue border is … Thank you Spring!! The discontinued subgenera are Pentanthera, Tsutsusi, Candidastrum and Mumeazalea, while a new subgenus was created by elevating subgenus Azaleastrum section Choniastrum to subgenus rank. In Nepali language it’s called “Laali-Guraash”. [52], In the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, rhododendron flowers have been used for some time to make popular fruit and flower wines. (2008)[42] shown in (parenthetical italics). (2005) with RPB2,[2] there began an ongoing realignment of species and groups within the genus, based on evolutionary relationships. Despite a degree of paraphyly, the subgenus Rhododendron was otherwise untouched with regard to its three sections but four other subgenera were eliminated and one new subgenus created, leaving a total of five subgenera in all, from eight in Chamberlain's scheme. His colors are crimson red and blue, representing bravery and peace. This structure largely survived till recently (2004), following which the development of molecular phylogeny led to major re-examinations of traditional morphological classifications,[16][17] although other authors such as Candolle, who described six sections,[22] used slightly different numeration. The Rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal. It is the national flower of Nepal. National traditional dress - Daura suruwal and Gunyu-cholo National dance - Newa dance National instrument - Madal National dish - Dal bhat (NEPAL) National sport - Volleyball (NEPAL) It is found mostly in hilly regions of Nepal and bloom in in the spring season. Following publication of the studies of Goetsch et al. While Sleumer's work was widely accepted, many in the United States and the United Kingdom continued to use the simpler Balfourian system of the Edinburgh group. Subgenus Pentanthera (deciduous azaleas) with its four sections was dismembered by eliminating two sections and redistributing the other two between the existing subgenera in clades B (Hymenanthes) and C (Azaleastrum), although the name was retained in section Pentanthera (14 species) which was moved to subgenus Hymenanthes. They were introduced to the European Alps and thus the name, Alpine Rose (Rhododendron histru… Of the three minor subgenera, all in C, two were discontinued. It belongs to Ericaceae family and is the genus of 1024 flowering species. That system continued up to modern times in Davidian's four volume The Rhododendron Species.[27]. Most species have brightly colored flowers which bloom from late winter through to early summer.[6]. Subgenus Tsutsusi (C) was reduced to section status retaining the name, and included in subgenus Azaleastrum. Most rhododendron flowers are bell-shaped and have 10 stamens. In spite of Nepal, it is native to Asia, North America, Australia and Europe. Cullen of the Edinburgh group, placing more emphasis on the lepidote characteristics of the leaves, united all of the lepidote species into subgenus Rhododendron, including four of Sleumer's subgenera (Rhododendron, Pseudoazalea, Pseudorhodorastrum, Rhodorastrum). The larger subgenera are further subdivided into sections and subsections[45] Some subgenera contain only a single section, and some sections only a single subsection. The nineteenth-century American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1834 wrote a poem titled "The Rhodora, On Being Asked, Whence Is the Flower", In Joyce's Ulysses, rhododendrons play an important role in Leopold and Molly's early courtship: Molly remembers them in her soliloquy – "the sun shines for you he said the day we were lying among the rhododendrons on Howth head in the grey tweed suit and his straw hat the day I got him to propose to me". [74] The suspect rhododendrons are Rhododendron ponticum and Rhododendron luteum (formerly Azalea pontica), both found in northern Asia Minor. [30][31] In 1986 Philipson & Philipson raised two sections of subgenus Aleastrum (Mumeazalea, Candidastrum) to subgenera, while reducing genus Therorhodion to a subgenus of Rhododendron. and R. maximum). I didn't know it grew into big trees .. The Greek translation of Rhododendron means 'Rose tree'. [11] The centres of diversity are in the Himalayas and Malaysia,[40] with the greatest species diversity in the Sino-Himalayan region, Southwest China and northern Burma, from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Sikkim, Nagaland to northwestern Yunnan and western Sichuan and southeastern Tibet. Records of the Rhododendron Society of America reside at the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia. R. ponticum is difficult to eradicate, as its roots can make new shoots. Pompey's soldiers reportedly suffered lethal casualties following the consumption of honey made from Rhododendron deliberately left behind by Pontic forces in 67 BCE during the Third Mithridatic War. Rhododendron borers and various weevils are major pests of rhododendrons, and many caterpillars will preferentially devour them. I blossom from March to May in the Spring season and found especially in the hilly areas above 1200m altitude. R. ponticum is the state flower of Indian-administered Kashmir and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. The large number of species that were available by the early twentieth century prompted a new approach when Balfour introduced the concept of grouping species into series. [citation needed], In the language of flowers, the Rhododendron symbolizes danger and to beware.[77]. On the other hand, azaleas (a type of rhododendron) represent the second Mrs. De Winter. [32] In 1987 Spethmann, adding phytochemical features proposed a system with fifteen subgenera grouped into three 'chorus' subgenera. In addition, rhododendrons can easily be suffocated by other plants or evergreen trees that grow up around them and block sunlight. [48] It is an introduced species, spreading in woodland areas and replacing the natural understory. It belongs to Ericaceae family and is the genus of 1024 flowering species. The Laliguras is ruby red in shading. Major diseases include Phytophthora root rot, stem and twig fungal dieback; Ohio State University Extension provides information on maintaining health of rhododendrons. Its crimson red is the colour of the rhododendron, the country's national flower. The flag is a simplified combination of two single pennons, the vexillological word for a pennant. As new species of what are now considered Rhododendron were discovered, if they seemed to differ significantly from the type species they were assigned to separate genera. Villagers can directly eat the flower petals or add salt and chilies to eat with rice and curry dishes. Nepal is the country with the predominate population follows the Hindu religion. For a comparison of the Sleumer and Chamberlain schemata see Table 1 of Goetsch (2005). [51] Azaleas are frequently used around foundations and occasionally as hedges, and many larger-leafed rhododendrons lend themselves well to more informal plantings and woodland gardens, or as specimen plants. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) About Me. The National flower of Nepal, Lali Gurash is one of the most beautiful species of Rhododendron. Rhododendron:Over 30 sub species of Rhododendron arboreum are found in Nepal. In some species, the undersides of the leaves are covered with scales (lepidote) or hairs (indumentum). Nepal is being visited by many tourists each year for many reasons and Rhododendron in one of the many reasons. [2][11][17][38][39], The era of molecular analysis rather than descriptive features can be dated to the work of Kurashige (1988) and Kron (1997) who used matK sequencing. Watch Queue Queue The pickled flower can last for months and the flower juice is also marketed. have found that the root of the plant is able to reduce the activity of NF-κB in rats. [46] Subgenera Rhododendron and Hymenanthes, together with section Pentanthera of subgenus Pentanthera are also represented to a lesser degree in the Mountainous areas of North America and Western Eurasia. Revisions by Goetsch et al. arboreum which have rose-red flowers and are hardy up to about -10°C, are known as ‘Lali Gurans‘ in Nepali and is the national flower. Azaleas make up two subgenera of Rhododendron. Information on rhododendrons at the Ericaceae web pages of Dr. Kron at Wake Forest University. [80]:53 The juice of rhododendron flower is used to make a squash called burans (named after the flower) in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. We customize treks as per your preferences and schedule. For instance Rhodora (Linnaeus 1763) for Rhododendron canadense, Vireya (Blume 1826)[18] and Hymenanthes (Blume 1826) for Rhododendron metternichii, now R. degronianum. A new calcium-tolerant stock of rhododendrons (trademarked as 'Inkarho') has been exhibited at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London (2011). [49], Rhododendron bud blast, a fungal condition that causes buds to turn brown and dry, and not open, is caused by the fungus Pycnostysanus azaleae, which may be brought to the plant by the rhododendron leafhopper, Graphocephala fennahi.[50](p562). Maximovicz used flower bud position and its relationship with leaf buds to create eight "Sections". It has around 1000 species of plant in the heath family. There are over 28,000 cultivars of Rhododendron in the International Rhododendron Registry held by the Royal Horticultural Society. The national flag of Nepal (Nepali: नेपालको झण्डा) is the world's only non-quadrilateral national flag. The rootstock is able to grow in calcium-rich soil up to a pH of 7.5. Rhododendron-Nepal National Flower Rhododendron-Nepal National Flower Rhododendron-Nepal National Flower They are found in Langtang National Park, Dadeldhura, Milkedanda, and Dakshinkali which is close to Kathmandu valley. [79] A very sweet drink is also made from the flowers. Of these Tsutsutsi (Tsutsusi), Pentanthera, Pogonanthum, Ponticum and Rhodora are still used, the other sections being Lepipherum, Booram, and Chamaecistus. [36] Then Judd & Kron moved two species (Rhododendron schlippenbachii, R. quinquefolium) from section Brachybachii, subgenus Tsutsusi and two from section Rhodora, subgenus Pentanthera (R. albrechtii, R. pentaphyllum) into section Sciadorhodion, subgenus Pentanthera. [11], Although Rhododendrons had been known since the description of Rhododendron hirsutum by Charles de l'Écluse (Clusius) in the sixteenth century, and were known to classical writers (Magor 1990), and referred to as Chamaerhododendron (low-growing rose tree), the genus was first formally described by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum in 1753. It is spread in the southern highlands of north America but Asia is the centre of its production. Consequently, the taxonomy has been historically complex. Reactions: Labels: National resources, Rhododendron. 4 comments: nnepali October 29, 2009 at 11:06 AM. The hills of Nepal are coloured red, white or pink during the blooming season of Rhododendron.This flower also got national recognizing as national flower in Nepal. Soon, as more species became available in the nineteenth century so did a better understanding of the characteristics necessary for the major divisions. 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