Image ID: 12689
Image by: Cressler, Alan M.
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library
PLANT INDEX
ID_PLANT: RHMI2
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rhododendron minus
Include in WOTAS: 0
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2020-01-01
GENUS INDEX
GENUS CODE: RHODO GENUS SCIENTIFIC:Rhododendron GENUS AUTHORITY: L. GENUS COMMON: Azalea GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 860 species, shrubs and trees, mostly north temperate (centered in Himalayan Asia). Molecular evidence appears to show that Menziesia should be included in Rhododendron, and is actually closely related within Rhododendron to R. vaseyi (Goetsch, Eckert, & Hall 2005; Kurashige et al. 2001); while the urceolatecorolla is rather anomalous in Rhododendron, many other characters ally Menziesia with basal clades in Rhododendron s.l. GENUS IDENTIFICATION: Identification notes: This key makes as much use as possible of vegetative characters, geography, and capsule characters; capsules are generally available for longer during the year than flowers, and even when plants are in flower, last years capsules can often be found. GENUS REFERENCES: Judd & Kron in FNA (2009); Fabijan in FNA (2009); Kron (1993)=Z; Judd & Kron (1995)=Y; Chamberlain (1982)=X; Cullen (1980)=Q; Davidian (1982)=D; Craven (2011)=U; Duncan & Pullen (1962)=V; Goetsch, Eckert, & Hall (2005); Towe (2004); Kron & Creel (1999); Stevens et al. in Kubitzki (2004).
FAMILY INDEX
FAMILY CODE: ERICAC FAMILY SCIENTIFIC:Ericaceae FAMILY AUTHORITY: A.L. de Jussieu 1789 FAMILY COMMON: Heath Family FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 107-124 genera and 3400-4100 species, primarily shrubs, small trees, and subshrubs, nearly cosmopolitan. The Ericaceae is very important in our area, which is one of the north temperate centers of diversity for the Ericaceae, with a great diversity of genera and species, many of them rather narrowly endemic. Along with Quercus and Pinus, various members of this family are dominant in much of our landscape. FAMILY REFERENCE: Tucker in FNA (2009); Gillespie & Kron (2010, 2013); Kron et al. (2002); Wood (1961); Judd & Kron (1993); Kron & Chase (1993); Luteyn et al. (1996)=L; Dorr & Barrie (1993); Cullings & Hileman (1997); Stevens et al. in Kubitzki (2004).
FRUITING PERIOD: DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE:
NATIVE RANGE: NC, SC, TN, GA & AL HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: This evergreen rhododendron can be a good backdrop for a woodland garden. It tolerates a fair amount of shade though more sun will encourage blooming. Moist well drained soil is essential for the health of this species. Large clusters of pink flowers in the spring and handsome foliage year round make Gorge Rhododendron a lovely garden plant. Though most common in the mountains, this species can be found in rocky soils in the piedmont and along sandhill bluffs in the coastal plain.
This information is derived from the 2018 North Carolina Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species.
WEAKLEY FLORA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rhododendron minus
COMMON NAME: Gorge Rhododendron, Punctatum
SYNONYMY: [= D, K, S; < R. minus - RAB, W (also see R. carolinianum); < R. minus var. minus - FNA, L, Q, V]
PHENOLOGY:
HABITAT: Rocky slopes, escarpment gorges, rocky areas in the Piedmont, sandhill bluffs in the Coastal Plain.
COMMENTS: Late Apr (in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain)-Jun (at the higher elevations along the Blue Ridge escarpment); Sep-Oct. GA and AL north to the Blue Ridge escarpment of n. GA, nw. SC, and sw. NC, and the Piedmont and inner Coastal Plain (fall-line sandhills) of sc. NC. This species ranges up to granite domes along the Blue Ridge Escarpment (such as Whiteside Mountain, Macon and Jackson counties, NC).
RANGE MAP: Rhododendron minus.png
Key to Map SymbolsABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora) Ericaceae A.L. de Jussieu 1789 (Heath Family) SUMMARY: A family of about 107-124 genera and 3400-4100 species, primarily shrubs, small trees, and subshrubs, nearly cosmopolitan. The Ericaceae is very important in our area, which is one of the north temperate centers of diversity for the Ericaceae, with a great diversity of genera and species, many of them rather narrowly endemic. Along with Quercus and Pinus, various members of this family are dominant in much of our landscape. REFERENCE: Tucker in FNA (2009); Gillespie & Kron (2010, 2013); Kron et al. (2002); Wood (1961); Judd & Kron (1993); Kron & Chase (1993); Luteyn et al. (1996)=L; Dorr & Barrie (1993); Cullings & Hileman (1997); Stevens et al. in Kubitzki (2004).ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora) Rhododendron L. (Azalea) SUMMARY: A genus of about 860 species, shrubs and trees, mostly north temperate (centered in Himalayan Asia). Molecular evidence appears to show that Menziesia should be included in Rhododendron, and is actually closely related within Rhododendron to R. vaseyi (Goetsch, Eckert, & Hall 2005; Kurashige et al. 2001); while the urceolatecorolla is rather anomalous in Rhododendron, many other characters ally Menziesia with basal clades in Rhododendron s.l. REFERENCE: Judd & Kron in FNA (2009); Fabijan in FNA (2009); Kron (1993)=Z; Judd & Kron (1995)=Y; Chamberlain (1982)=X; Cullen (1980)=Q; Davidian (1982)=D; Craven (2011)=U; Duncan & Pullen (1962)=V; Goetsch, Eckert, & Hall (2005); Towe (2004); Kron & Creel (1999); Stevens et al. in Kubitzki (2004).
HERBARIUM RESOURCES
SERNEC: Find Rhododendron minus in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available) UNC SERNEC: Find Rhododendron minus in
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)