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Rhododendron arboreum

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Rhododendron genus in the family Ericaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Secondary canopy
    Secondary canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid
    Very acid to Acid
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Rhododendron arboreum has 0 edible uses listed
Rhododendron arboreum has 0 material uses listed
Rhododendron arboreum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The leaves are poisonous[1][2]. The flowers can cause intoxication in large quantities[3].

Edible uses

Notes

The tender leaves are used as a cooked vegetable[4][5][3]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Flowers - raw or cooked[6]. A sweet-sour taste, they are said to make a good sub-acid jelly[3]. Th flowers are sometimes simply pickled by adding salt and chili[6]. Caution is advised, large quantities can cause intoxication[7][3].

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

The juice of the leaves is spread over cots and beds to get rid of bed lice[6]. Wood - soft, even grained, seasons badly. Used in turnery, it can also be used to make charcoal and for fuel[1][5]. Th wood is much employed in Nepal where it is used for making household implements, building small houses and fences[6]. Planks of the wood are carved to make boxes, cupboards and other furniture[6]. It is a very good fuel, burning well with a long-lasting heat - overcollection of the wod for fuel, and also for making charcoal, has become a cause for conservation concern[6].

Unknown part

Charcoal
Fuel
Wood
Repellent

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The young leaves are astringent and poultice[5]. They are made into a pasteand then applied to the forehead in the treatment of headaches[2][6].

The juice of the bark is used in the treatment of coughs, diarrhoea and dysentery[6].

A decoction of the flowers is used to check a tendency to vomit, especially if there is also a loss of appetite[6]. The juice of the flowers is used in the treatment of menstrual disorders[6]. The petals are eaten to assist the removal of any animal bones that have become stuck in the throat[8].

Unknown part

Astringent
Poultice
Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Secondary canopy

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn and given artificial light. Alternatively sow the seed in a lightly shaded part of the warm greenhouse in late winter or in a cold greenhouse in April. Surface-sow the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry[9]. Pot up the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a greenhouse for at least the first winter.

Layering in late July. Takes 15 - 24 months[10].

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame. Difficult[10].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Rhododendron arboreum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most humus rich lime free soils except those of a dry arid nature or heavy or clayey[11]. Prefers a peaty or well-drained sandy loam[11]. Succeeds in sun or shade, the warmer the climate the more shade a plant requires[9]. Requires a pH between 4.5 and 5.5[9].

Hardy to between -10 and -15°c, the pink flowered form is hardier than the red[12]. Succeeds in a woodland though, because of its surface-rooting habit[9], it does not compete well with surface-rooting trees[11]. Plants need to be kept well weeded, they dislike other plants growing over or into their root system, in particular they grow badly with ground cover plants, herbaceous plants and heathers[9]. There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[9]. Plants form a root ball and are very tolerant of being transplanted, even when quite large, so long as the root ball is kept intact[9]. This plant is the national flower of Nepal[1]. The flowers are sold in local markets and used as offerings to the Gods and Godesses[6]. A very ornamental plant[11], it is not very hardy outdoors in much of Britain, but grows well in the milder areas of the country[11].

Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Rhododendron arboreum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Rhododendron arboreum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Rhododendron arboreum
Genus
Rhododendron
Family
Ericaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[4][5][3][6][7]
Medicinal uses
[5][2][6][8]
Material uses & Functions
[6][1][5]
Botanic
[13][1][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Secondary canopy
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    12 x 3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.



    "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.5 Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press (1945-00-00)
    6. ? 6.006.016.026.036.046.056.066.076.086.096.106.116.126.13 Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-527-6 (2002-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Vanderplank. J. Passion Flowers Cassell. London. ISBN 0-304-34076-6 (1991-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.69.79.8 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.211.311.4 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    12. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30258-2 (1989-00-00)
    13. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-11

    "image:Nilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Rhododendron arboreum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyEricaceae +
    Belongs to genusRhododendron +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers + and Leaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeInsects +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone7 +
    Has imageNilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useCharcoal +, Fuel +, Wood + and Repellent +
    Has mature height12 +
    Has mature width3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAstringent +, Poultice + and Stomachic +
    Has primary imageNilgiri and rhododendrons.jpg +
    Has search namerhododendron arboreum + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid + and Acid +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameRhododendron arboreum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSecondary canopy +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +