Rhododendron dauricum

(Redirected from Dahurian rhododendron)

Rhododendron dauricum is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae native to forests and forest margins in Eastern Siberia, Mongolia, North China and Hokkaido, Japan.[1] The Latin specific epithet dauricum means "from Siberia"[2]: 70  – Transbaikal is also known as Dauria.

Rhododendron dauricum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron
Species:
R. dauricum
Binomial name
Rhododendron dauricum
Synonyms
List
  • Azalea daurica (L.) Kuntze
  • Azalea dahurica K.Koch
  • Rhododendron atrovirens (Ker Gawl.) Tagg
  • Rhododendron dauricum f. albiflorum Turcz.) Y.C.Zhu
  • Rhododendron dauricum var. atrovirens Ker Gawl.
  • Rhododendron dauricum subsp. ledebourii (Pojark.) Alexandrova & P.A.Schmidt
  • Rhododendron dauricum var. pallidum Regel
  • Rhododendron dauricum var. roseum DC.
  • Rhododendron dauricum var. sempervirens Sims
  • Rhododendron ledebourii Pojark.

Description

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Growing to 1.5 m (5 ft) tall and broad, it is a compact semi-evergreen shrub with purple flowers which open in late winter or early spring, before the dark green leaves appear.[3][4]

Phytochemistry

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R. dauricum contains monoterpenoids daurichromenic acid (DCA) and confluentin (decarboxylated DCA) as well as rhododaurichromenic acids A and B which are structurally related to Cannabichromene.[5]

Cultivation

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R. dauricum is the basis of the PJM hybrid (Rhododendron dauricum × Rhododendron carolinianum).

The cultivar 'Mid-winter', with bright pink flowers, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4][6] It is hardy down to −20 °C (−4 °F), but like all rhododendrons requires a sheltered position in dappled shade and acid soil enriched with leaf mould.

References

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  1. ^ Fang, Ruizheng; Chamberlain, David F. "Rhododendron mucronulatum". Flora of China. Vol. 14. Retrieved 7 October 2018 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  2. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
  3. ^ Description of Rhododendron dauricum. American Rhododendron Society
  4. ^ a b "RHS Plantfinder - Rhododendron dauricum 'Mid-winter'". Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  5. ^ Shi, Qing; Li, Teng-Teng; Wu, Yong-Mei; Sun, Xin-Yu; Lei, Chun; Li, Jing-Ya; Hou, Ai-Jun (1 December 2020). "Meroterpenoids with diverse structures and anti-inflammatory activities from Rhododendron anthopogonoides". Phytochemistry. 180: 112524. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112524. PMID 33038550. S2CID 222280745.
  6. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 85. Retrieved 8 October 2018.

Bibliography

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