Rhododendron lochiae 

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms  > Eudicots > Asterids > Ericales > Ericaceae  > Rhododendron lochiae

Other links:

Plant  information

Common name:                  ...

Conservation status:   ...

Etymology:   

Flowers:                  

• In spring and summer it produces terminal clusters of waxy, red bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is about 5 cm long and 3 cm wide, and occurs in groups of up to six per cluster

Fruit:                         

Leaves:         

•  Glossy, elliptic leaves

Stem & branches:   

Roots:         

Habit:        

• A small shrub

Habitat:  

• In cloud forests on mountain tops 

• It is found in protected situations, often situated in rocky areas with high rainfall and high humidity

Distribution:        

• Wet Tropics of north eastern Queensland

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy

  • One of only two species of the genus Rhododendron that are native to Australia.

  • The other species, Rhododendron viriosum, was only formally classified as a separate species in 2002

  • The species was first described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1887 who gave it the specific epithet lochae in honour of Lady Loch, a patron of horticulture in Australia and wife of the Governor of Victoria

  • The spelling was later amended to lochiae

  • The type specimen was collected by William A. Sayer and A. Davidson who came across the species while ascending Mount Bellenden Ker

  • It is classified within subgenus Rhododendron, section Vireya, subsection Euvireya

  • Forms with a straight corolla tube that were previously included within the species were reclassified by Craven in 2002 as R. viriosum

  • Presently this segregate species is not recognised and its name has been resumed as a synonym of this R. lochiae

  • Furthermore, those specimens with a curved corolla tube, at one stage known as R. notiale Craven, remain within the present definition of R. lochiae

  • Therefore, all Australian plants occurring in the wild are, presently, officially known as R. lochiae

• Hybrids

  • A large number of hybrids have been produced from R. lochiae crossed with other species in the section Vireya

• Cultivation

  • The first record of cultivation related to a specimen which was growing, and subsequently flowering, at Kew Gardens in 1939

  • Plants require good drainage, constant moisture, good light and a semi-shaded position protected from frost and hot sun

Sources of information:

• (2023)