Rhododendron menziesii
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.
| Rhododendron menziesii (Menziesia ferruginea)[1][2] | |
|---|---|
 | |
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 | |
Description
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
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
- Flora of the West Coast of the United States
- Flora of the Cascade Range
References
- Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Menziesia ferruginea . accessed 16 May 2017.
- Calflora: Menziesia ferruginea . accessed 17 May 2017.
- "Menziesia ferruginea". www.fs.fed.us.
External links
- 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).