Rhododendron vaseyi

Rhododendron vaseyi is a species of flowering plant in the heath family known by the common name pinkshell azalea.[2] It is endemic to the Applachian highlands of North Carolina in widely scattered locations. While there is a main center of distribution west of Asheville, there is also a large population on Grandfather Mountain, in the northwestern corner of the state.[3]

Rhododendron vaseyi

Vulnerable  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron
Species:
R. vaseyi
Binomial name
Rhododendron vaseyi
Synonyms[1]
  • Azalea vaseyi (A.Gray) Rehder
  • Biltia vaseyi (A.Gray) Small

This deciduous shrub may grow up to 5 meters (almost 17 feet) in height. The large flowers are pink and begin to bloom in April. This species was first collected in 1878 by G. R. Vasey, son of botanist George Vasey and named in honor of both father and son.[4][5][6]

In the wild, this species grows in acidic moist and wet substrates near bogs and streams. It may occur alongside other types of Rhododendron, such as Rhododendron maximum. The understory is made up of many ericaceous species such as Vaccinium spp. and Leucothoe editorum.[3] The plant can often be found in areas of the forest that have been recently cleared by logging operations.[4]

Threats to this plant in the wild include destruction of habitat as land is converted to residential use, and poaching.[4]

References
  1. Tropicos, Rhododendron vaseyi A. Gray
  2. "Rhododendron vaseyi". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  3. Rhododendron vaseyi. The Nature Conservancy.
  4. Rhododendron vaseyi. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
  5. Gray, Asa (1880) Botanical Contributions, in Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.15(1): 48–49.
  6. Flora of North America, Rhododendron vaseyi A. Gray, 1879. Pink-shell azalea
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