Rhododendron menziesii
Rhododendron menziesii (Menziesia ferruginea)[1][2] | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Ericaceae |
Genus: | Rhododendron |
Species: | R. menziesii |
Binomial name | |
Rhododendron menziesii | |
Synonyms | |
Rhododendron menziesii, also classified as Menziesia ferruginea,[1][2] is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae, known by several common names, including rusty menziesia, false huckleberry, fool's huckleberry and mock azalea.
Description
[edit]Rhododendron menziesii is a mostly erect or spreading shrub often exceeding 3 metres (9.8 ft) in height, and reaching lower heights at higher elevations.[3]
Its branches are coated in thin, scaly, shreddy bark and its twigs with fine glandular hairs.
The alternately arranged deciduous leaves are oval in shape with pointed tips, reaching 4 to 6 centimeters long. The leaves are hairy, glandular, and sticky in texture, and have an unpleasant skunklike odor when crushed.[3]
The inflorescence is a loose cluster of hanging bell- or cup-shaped flowers in shades of pink to orange to yellow-green. The flower has 4 to 5 petals which are mostly fused into a cylinder, and eight stamens inside. The bloom period is June and July.[1][2]
The fruit is a valved capsule under a centimeter long which contains many seeds.
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The shrub is native to northwestern North America from Alaska through the Pacific Northwest to northwestern California and Wyoming.[1][2]
It is a member of the flora in mountain forests. It grows in the understory of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), Pacific silver fir (A. amabilis), Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens),[2] western redcedar (Thuja plicata), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and other conifers.[3]
The plant prefers cold, wet, densely vegetated habitats where it can grow in deep shade.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Calflora Database: Menziesia ferruginea (Mock azalea, Rusty menziesia) — active name (5−2017).
- Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Menziesia ferruginea — active name (2017).
- USDA Plants Profile for Menziesia ferruginea (rusty menziesia) — active name (5−2017).
- Photo gallery for Menziesia ferruginea — active name (2017).