| Rhododendron catawbiense | |
|---|---|
| |
| Rhododendron catawbiense growing wild on Mount Mitchell, North Carolina | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Rhododendron |
| Species: | R. catawbiense
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| 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 (19⁄32–25⁄32 in) long, containing numerous small seeds.
The species is named after the Catawba River.[4]
- ^ 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.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Rhododendron catawbiense". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wagstaff, D.J. (2008). International Poisonous Plants Checklist: An Evidence-Based Reference. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781420062533.
- ^ André Michaux. Flora Boreali'Americana. 1803. ("Hab. in montibus excelsis Carolinse septentrionalis; juxta originem amnis Catawba")[1]