| 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 of the 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. The
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 in 5 as well, and the margins have long hairs. Bloom time.
May-June. |
