Rhododendron catawbiense

Rhododendron catawbiense
Rhododendron catawbiense growing wild on Mount Mitchell, North Carolina
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron
Species:
R. catawbiense
Binomial name
Rhododendron catawbiense
Natural range

Rhododendron catawbiense, with common names Catawba rosebay,[2] Catawba rhododendron,[3] mountain rosebay,[3] purple ivy,[3] purple laurel,[3] purple rhododendron,[3] red laurel,[3] rosebay,[3] rosebay laurel,[3] is a species of Rhododendron native to the eastern United States, growing mainly in the southern Appalachian Mountains from West Virginia south to northern Alabama.

It is a dense, suckering shrub growing to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall, rarely 5 m (16 ft). The leaves are evergreen, 6–12 cm (2.4–4.7 in) long and 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in) broad. The flowers are 3–4.5 cm (1.2–1.8 in) in diameter, violet-purple, often with small spots or streaks. The fruit is a dry capsule 15–20 mm (19322532 in) long, containing numerous small seeds.

The species is named after the Catawba River.[4]

  1. ^ IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; et al. (BGCI) (2020). "Rhododendron catawbiense". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T156821604A156821606. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T156821604A156821606.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Rhododendron catawbiense​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Wagstaff, D.J. (2008). International Poisonous Plants Checklist: An Evidence-Based Reference. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781420062533.
  4. ^ André Michaux. Flora Boreali'Americana. 1803. ("Hab. in montibus excelsis Carolinse septentrionalis; juxta originem amnis Catawba")[1]