Dr Rawat is correct this is definitely Rhododendron campanulatum with which I am most familiar in the NW Himalaya. Life is so much simpler with Rhododendrons in the NW Himalaya as there are only 4 species recorded: R.anthopogon, R.arboreum and R.campanulatum. Further East in the Himalaya there are 40+. I have some images of R.campanulatum at the fruiting stage, which if I can locate them, shall post shortly. Cannot recollect if I have any images of R.arboreum at fruiting stage for comparison purposes. In Uttarakhand there is also R.barbatum and a more recently described species.
*Please note the correct spelling of Rhododendron arboreum - which MS software changes to R.arboretum! Just as it changes Meconopsis aculeata* *to Meconopsis aculeate, in error!* *Only R.anthopogon, campaulatum & lepidotum are listed as found in the 'Valley of Flowers' within Smythe's book (with R.barbatum in a Supplementary List).* I have never been to VoF but in the NW Himalaya the indumentum on the undersides of R.campanulatum leaves varies considerably, though is often cinnamon-coloured. Sometimes, early on, it is even white. R.campanulatum is typically found between 2850-4300m in Kashmir (according to Stewart, though Coventry only knew it from 3000-3600m), the branches often prostrate having been pressed down by snow. I have seen the plant on the Rohtang and making a fine display on the southern-slopes of the Baspa Valley above Chiktul in Kinnaur. This shrub is plentiful on the lower slopes of Aphawat. I understand that the leaves & twigs are said to have medicinal properties (incl. in Tibetan Medicine). The leaves are not eaten by goats and are considered poisonous to them. All plant species vary. The typical shape of R.campanulatum leaves varies from broadly elliptic to oval. The typical shape of R.arboreum leaves is oblong to lanceolate. As for Rhododendron arboreum, this is limited to 1200-2400m in N.Pakistan & Kashmir. It is much more common eastward. I have seen it at Shimla & Mussorie, where it is common. R.campanulatum was recorded on 'The Chor' by Collett. So these two species would not be expected to be found growing together in the W.Himalaya or Uttarakhand for that matter, which I consider (I trust not too controversially) to be part of the 'Central' Himalaya in floristic terms, rather than 'West' or East'; there are quite a number of species, as Dr Rawat knows far better than I, which are at their NW limit in Uttarakhand, not found in NW Himalaya (Kashmir or Himachal Pradesh, though there are some found in Himachal Pradesh which do not extend into Kashmir territory - at least as far as is known). I do not find that the division of the Himalaya into just 'West' or 'East' covers the flora satisfactorily. 2 or more Rhododendron species may be found together further East. e.g. in Nepal. On Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 6:59:50 PM UTC+1, Prashant wrote: > Dear Friends, > > Seen this small Tree in its fruiting stage at VoF.. > > Date/Time: 08-08-2012/01:30PM. > > Regards > Prashant > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
