Rhododendron nivale Hook. f.

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Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Rhododendron nivale' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-nivale/). Accessed 2024-03-18.

Genus

Synonyms

  • Rhododendron paludosum Hutch. & Ward

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

calyx
(pl. calyces) Outer whorl of the perianth. Composed of several sepals.
corolla
The inner whorl of the perianth. Composed of free or united petals often showy.
style
Generally an elongated structure arising from the ovary bearing the stigma at its tip.
Tibet
Traditional English name for the formerly independent state known to its people as Bod now the Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. The name Xizang is used in lists of Chinese provinces.
apex
(pl. apices) Tip. apical At the apex.
glabrous
Lacking hairs smooth. glabrescent Becoming hairless.
hybrid
Plant originating from the cross-fertilisation of genetically distinct individuals (e.g. two species or two subspecies).
included
(botanical) Contained within another part or organ.
obtuse
Blunt.
ovary
Lowest part of the carpel containing the ovules; later developing into the fruit.
subspecies
(subsp.) Taxonomic rank for a group of organisms showing the principal characters of a species but with significant definable morphological differentiation. A subspecies occurs in populations that can occupy a distinct geographical range or habitat.

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Rhododendron nivale' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-nivale/). Accessed 2024-03-18.

Prostrate or compact shrub, 0.6–0.9(–1.2) m. Leaves 0.4–0.9(–1.2) × 2–6 cm, elliptic to broadly elliptic, apex rounded to subacute, with at most a very short mucro, lower surface covered with more or less touching scales, the majority usually pale gold but with a few darker. Flowers 1–2(–3) per inflorescence; calyx minute or lobes 2–5 mm and oblong or oblong-deltoid; corolla rich purple to lilac or pink, broadly funnel-shaped, (7–)9–13(–16) mm; stamens usually 10, longer or shorter than the corolla; ovary scaly, style usually longer than stamens, glabrous or slightly pubescent at base. Flowering April-May. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  China S Tibet, Yunnan, W Sichuan India Sikkim Nepal

Habitat 3,100–5,800 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H6

Conservation status Least concern (LC)

A compact twiggy shrub with erect or interlacing stems, up to about 3 ft high, sometimes ground-hugging. Leaves less than 12 in. long, elliptic to roundish, obtuse or rounded at the apex, scaly on both sides, the scales beneath close or contiguous, brown, but intermixed with less numerous darker ones. Flowers solitary or in pairs. Calyx well developed, usually as long as the ovary, the lobes scaly on the back and at the margin. Corolla purple, lavender, or pink, about 34 in. wide. Stamens usually ten, occasionally fewer, downy in the lower part. Style glabrous, or sometimes downy at the base, usually longer than the stamens. (s. Lapponicum)

A native of the Himalaya at high altitudes from Nepal eastward and of the trans-Himalayan ranges of S.E. Tibet where it reaches farther into the dry zone than any other rhododendron; its southern limit is the Diphuk La, near the common border of Burma, Assam, and Tibet (KW 7058). It is in cultivation but uncommon.

subsp. boreale Philipson & Philipson R. nigropunctatum Franch.; R. ramosissimum Franch.; R. alpicola Rehd. & Wils.; R. violaceum Rehd. & Wils.; R. oresbium Balf. f. & Ward; R. stictophyllum Balf. f.; R. vicarium Balf. f.; R. batangense Balf. f.; R. oreinum Balf. f.; R. yaragongense Balf. f. – Calyx shortly lobed or reduced to a shallow cup. Style usually shorter than the stamens. Colouring of the scales on the underside of the leaf sometimes more uniform than in typical R. nivale.

This subspecies, with the synonyms listed above, was constituted by M. N. and W. R. Philipson in the revision of the Lapponicum group, published in 1975 (see p. 572). It occurs in W. Szechwan, bordering parts of Tibet and N.W. Yunnan. The first introduction appears to have been by Wilson from W. Szechwan when collecting for Messrs Veitch (seed-number 1543) and was grown as R. nigropunctatum (Bot. Mag., t. 8529). At the present time there are plants from Rock 24385 in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, previously grown as R. stictophyllum, but the rhododendron in commerce under this name agrees none too well with R. nivale subsp. boreale and indeed bears some resemblance to R. lysolepis. It is, however, one of the prettiest of the Lapponicums.

The authors remark that the type of R. edgarianum Rehd. & Wils., collected by Wilson in W. Szechwan in 1908, appears to be a hybrid of R. nivale subsp. boreale with some undetermined species. He sent seeds, but the plants now grown as R. edgarianum, at least those seen, are from Forrest 16450, collected on the Beima-shan. The seed was distributed as R. oresbium, which is included in R. edgarianum in Species of Rhododendron, whence its present name. However, in the Philipsons’ revision R. oresbium is included in R. nivale subsp. boreale, while Forrest’s original specimen under 16450 is referred to R. tapetiforme (a species not treated here). The plants themselves do not agree either with R. nivale subsp. boreale nor with R. tapetiforme (nor with R. edgarianum). This “R. edgarianum” is a quite useful Lapponicum, of dwarf, erect habit, bearing light purple flowers at the end of May.


subsp. australe Philipson & N.M.Philipson

Calyx lobes 2–5mm, ciliate; leaf apex more or less acute.

Distribution China (NW & C Yunnan).

Habitat 3,100–4,300m.


subsp. boreale Philipson & N.M.Philipson

Synonyms
R. alpicola Rehder & E.H.Wilson
R. nigropunctatum Franch.
R. oresbium Balf.f. & Kingdon-Ward
R. ramosissimum Franch.
R. stictophyllum Balf.f.
R. violaceum Rehder & E.H.Wilson

Calyx more or less obsolete; leaf apex more or less acute.

Distribution China (SE Tibet, NW Yunnan, W Sichuan).

Habitat 3,200–5,000m.

Taxonomic note (incl. R. alpicola Rehder & E.H.Wilson, R. nigropunctatum Franch., R. oresbium Balf.f. & Kingdon-Ward, R. ramosissimum Franch., R. stictopyllum Balf.f. & R. violaceum Rehder & E.H.Wilson)

This is a variable and widespread species.


subsp. nivale

Synonyms
R. paludosum Hutch.

Calyx lobes 2–5mm, margins with scales; leaf apex rounded.

Distribution Nepal, India (Sikkim), China (S Tibet).

Habitat to 5,800m.

Taxonomic note (incl. R. paludosum Hutch. & R. ramosissimum Franch.)