Rhododendron moulmainense
Rhododendron moulmainense (Westland's Rhododendron; syn. Rhododendron westladii Hemsl.) is a species of Rhododendron, native to southern China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hong Kong, Hunan, Yunnan), Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.[1]
| Rhododendron moulmainense | |
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| Species: | R. moulmainense |
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| Rhododendron moulmainense Hook. f. | |
It is an evergreen shrub or small tree 3–8 m tall. The leaves are 4–13 cm long, elliptical and leathery. Every leaf has a curvy margin rolling backward toward the underside. The flowers are fragrant, borne on top of the branches, are in an umbel inflorescence and in groups of two to four. The petal is white or pink, with its inner part spotted orange. Its flowering period is from March to April in Hong Kong. The fruit is a cylindric, 2.5–5 cm long capsule, 6-angled along its length, bearing numerous small seeds. Its fruiting period is from May to June in Hong Kong.
The common name honours A. B. Westland, the first Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, Hong Kong.[2]
Protection
In Hong Kong, where it occurs on Ma On Shan, Pat Sin Leng, Wu Kau Tang, and Lantau Island, it is a protected species under Forestry Regulations Cap. 96A.
