Rhododendron catawbiense

Rhododendron catawbiense, with common names Catawba rosebay,[2] Catawba rhododendron,[3] mountain rosebay,[3] purple ivy,[3] purple laurel,[3] purple rhododendron,[3] red laurel,[3] rosebay,[3] rosebay laurel,[3] is a species of Rhododendron native to the eastern United States, growing mainly in the southern Appalachian Mountains from Virginia south to northern Alabama.

Rhododendron catawbiense
Rhododendron catawbiense growing wild on Mount Mitchell, North Carolina

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Rhododendron
Subgenus:
Hymenanthes
Section:
Ponticum
Subsection:
Pontica
Species:
R. catawbiense
Binomial name
Rhododendron catawbiense
Natural range

It is a dense, suckering shrub growing to 3 m tall, rarely 5 m. The leaves are evergreen, 6–12 cm long and 2–4 cm broad. The flowers are 3-4.5 cm diameter, violet-purple, often with small spots or streaks. The fruit is a dry capsule 15–20 mm long, containing numerous small seeds.

The species is named after the Catawba River.[4]

Classification

Rhododendron catawbiense belongs to the Subgenus Hymenanthes, within which it is further assigned to Section Ponticum and Subsection Pontica. The latter — one of the 24 subsections of Ponticum — also contains about a dozen other species. The taxonomy has been confused by a tendency to group all large leaved Rhododendrons under the catch-all R. catawbiense.[5]

Cultivation and uses

Rhododendron catawbiense is cultivated as an ornamental plant, popular both in North America and in parts of Europe. It is primarily grown for its spring flower display. Outside of its native range, many cultivars and hybrids have been created,[6] such as 'Purple Elegans', 'Roseus Elegans', and 'Grandiflorum'.

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See also

References
  1. IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). (2020). "Rhododendron catawbiense". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T156821604A156821606. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T156821604A156821606.en. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  2. "Rhododendron catawbiense". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  3. Wagstaff, D.J. (2008). International Poisonous Plants Checklist: An Evidence-Based Reference. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781420062533.
  4. André Michaux. Flora Boreali'Americana. 1803. ("Hab. in montibus excelsis Carolinse septentrionalis; juxta originem amnis Catawba")
  5. University of Connecticut: Rhododendron catawbiense Archived 2012-07-12 at the Wayback Machine
  6. R. catawbiense cultivars . accessed 1.31.2013
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