Rhododendron simsii

Rhododendron simsii (杜鵑) is a rhododendron species native to East Asia, where it grows at altitudes of 500–2700 meters.

Rhododendron simsii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Rhododendron
Species:
R. simsii
Binomial name
Rhododendron simsii
Planch.
Synonyms
  • Euodia confusa Merr.
  • Azalea indica var. simsii (Planch.) L.H. Bailey
  • Rhododendron breynii Planch.
  • Rhododendron danielsianum Planch.
  • Rhododendron decumbens D. Don ex G. Don
  • Rhododendron hannoense Nakai
  • Rhododendron indicum (L.) Sweet (Satsuki azalea)
  • Rhododendron lateritium Planch.
  • Rhododendron macranthum (Bunge) G. Don

Description

It is a shrub that grows to 2 m in height, with leaves that are ovate, elliptic-ovate or obovate to oblanceolate, 1.5–5 by 0.5–3 cm in size. Flowers range from white to dark red. Some species of Rhododendron simsii are poisonous due to presence of grayanotoxin.[1]

Distribution

The species is common in Hong Kong. It is also distributed in Areas south of Yangtze in China as well as in Vietnam and Thailand.[2]

Its specific name commemorates John Sims (1749-1831) who was the first editor of "Magazine Botanique". [3]

References
  1. Poon WT, Ho CH, Yip KL, Lai CK, Cheung KL, Sung RY, Chan AY, Mak TW Grayanotoxin poisoning from Rhododendron simsii in an infant. Hong Kong Med J. 2008 Oct;14(5):405-7
  2. http://www.hkherbarium.net/Herbarium/PDF/Leaflet%2013_LR.pdf Native Azaleas of Hong Kong
  3. (in French) Dictionnaire étymologique de botanique


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.