| Rhododendron japonicum
is a deciduous, tuft-forming shrub inhabiting hills or grasslands in
the lower parts of the subalpine zone, branches spreading obliquely
sideways and growing to 0.5-2.5m in height. Barks are grayish-brown.
Leaves are of alternate phyllotaxis; some individual leaves get
together on the branch tips. Their blades, 5-10cm in length, 0.5-3cm
in width, are oblanceolate, the bases taper off towards 3-7mm long
petioles; the texture is thin, and the margins are entire, wavy, and
have bristles curving towards the inside. Hairs are sparsely on
either side of leaf surfaces also. Flowers open as the leaves
develop; branch tops bear 2-8 light orange-red flowers together -
the corollas, each 5-8cm long, are funnel−shaped, cleft in 5, and
upper segments have spots darker than around. Sepals cut themselves
in 5, and the margins have long hairs. Bloom time. May-June. |
Wild plants in and around Shimane
島根とその周辺の野生植物
