Rhododendron
Rhododendron vireya
This flowering plant is actually a genus and a species of tropical rhododendrons known as rhododendron crassifolium and can grow up to 5 meters in height. It is also Nepal's national flower. It is native to Southeast Asia.
Rhododendron vireya
This flowering plant is actually a genus and a species of tropical rhododendrons known as rhododendron crassifolium and can grow up to 5 meters in height. It is also Nepal's national flower. It is native to Southeast Asia.
About the Rhododendron
http://www.plantdatabase.co.uk/Rhododendron_vireya_Toff |
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In Depth...
Foliage
-Ovate
-Evergreen
-Alternate
-1/2-8 inches in length
-Smooth margins
-Dark green with a glossy upper surface and dull underside
Flower
-Showy
-Bell-shaped
-Usually red-orange (in tropical species)
http://www.gardens.org.nz/advancedsearch/?id=15
http://jury.co.nz/tag/vireya-rhododendrons/
-Ovate
-Evergreen
-Alternate
-1/2-8 inches in length
-Smooth margins
-Dark green with a glossy upper surface and dull underside
Flower
-Showy
-Bell-shaped
-Usually red-orange (in tropical species)
http://www.gardens.org.nz/advancedsearch/?id=15
http://jury.co.nz/tag/vireya-rhododendrons/
ethnobotany
Rhododendrons are native to Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia. Both species and hybrid rhododendrons (including azaleas) are used extensively “as ornamental plants in landscaping in many parts of the world, and many species and cultivars are grown commercially for the nursery trade.” These plants are valued for this because of there “structure, size, flowers, and the fact that many of them are evergreen.” Rhododendrons are grown commercially in many areas for sale, and are occasionally collected in the wild. The United States in states like Oregon, California and Washington shit long distances for commercial growing.
It is the national flower of Nepal where people eat it and enjoy its sour flavor. People pickle the flower and also create flower juice to sell to consumers. Other ways to prepare the flower is “fresh or dried, is added to fish curry in the belief that it will soften the bones. The juice of rhododendron flower is used to make a squash know as burans(named after the flower)in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. It is admired for its distinctive flavor and color.”
It is the national flower of Nepal where people eat it and enjoy its sour flavor. People pickle the flower and also create flower juice to sell to consumers. Other ways to prepare the flower is “fresh or dried, is added to fish curry in the belief that it will soften the bones. The juice of rhododendron flower is used to make a squash know as burans(named after the flower)in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. It is admired for its distinctive flavor and color.”
current research
A study conducted in 2009 was done to further understand antibacterial and antifungal activities of mad honey and crude extracts from Rhododendrons. It had “A total of 17 microbial organisms belonging to 16 species of bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococcus salivarius, Klebsiella pneumoniae. Escherichia co/i, Salmonella enteritis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacillus licheniformis, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Candida albicans were studied using a disk-diffusion and agar dilution (minimal inhibition concentration) method.
This method showed how the antimicrobial activity of the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the mad honey and the crude extracts obtained from the “4 Rhododendron spp.” turned out to be more effective in the case of bacteria than against fungus. “The antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria was more pronounced than against gram-negative ones.”
Each of the crude extracts of the Rhododendron spp. and mad honey exhibited more or less pronounced antibacterial and antifungal potencies in the case of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungus. In particular, the crude samples of “Rhododendron caucasicum flowers (RCF), Rhododendron ponticum leaves (RPL) and Rhododendron ponticum flowers (RPF), and Rhododendron smirnovil leaves (RSL) showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against the tested organisms.”
A second study was done in 2012 stating "two new species of Rhododendron" were found in New Guinea. According to this article "two new species of Rhododendron L. sect. Schistanthe Schltr. recently discovered in New Guinea, are described and illustrated." One is the "Rhododendron muscipulum Danet, sp. nov. is close to R. tuba Sleumer but is distinct by having a recurved corolla tube, a style almost completely indumented, anther cells that are rounded at the base, a puberulent pedicel and leaves that are persistent for a long time on 12-16 consecutive sympodial units." The other is "Rhododendron andrineae Danet, sp. nov. is close to R. opulentum Sleumer, differing by its pedicel that is very short and robust, its sericeous gynoecium and its longer capsule."
This shows results that we still have not seen all of what nature has to offer. "Furthermore, R. andrineae sp. nov. is recognisable from all the species in the section Schistanthe in having an ovary indumentum that consists of scales and stellate hairs." On top of that "The latter had never been observed until now in the section Schistanthe and never in combination with scales in the genus Rhododendron."
This method showed how the antimicrobial activity of the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the mad honey and the crude extracts obtained from the “4 Rhododendron spp.” turned out to be more effective in the case of bacteria than against fungus. “The antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria was more pronounced than against gram-negative ones.”
Each of the crude extracts of the Rhododendron spp. and mad honey exhibited more or less pronounced antibacterial and antifungal potencies in the case of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungus. In particular, the crude samples of “Rhododendron caucasicum flowers (RCF), Rhododendron ponticum leaves (RPL) and Rhododendron ponticum flowers (RPF), and Rhododendron smirnovil leaves (RSL) showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against the tested organisms.”
A second study was done in 2012 stating "two new species of Rhododendron" were found in New Guinea. According to this article "two new species of Rhododendron L. sect. Schistanthe Schltr. recently discovered in New Guinea, are described and illustrated." One is the "Rhododendron muscipulum Danet, sp. nov. is close to R. tuba Sleumer but is distinct by having a recurved corolla tube, a style almost completely indumented, anther cells that are rounded at the base, a puberulent pedicel and leaves that are persistent for a long time on 12-16 consecutive sympodial units." The other is "Rhododendron andrineae Danet, sp. nov. is close to R. opulentum Sleumer, differing by its pedicel that is very short and robust, its sericeous gynoecium and its longer capsule."
This shows results that we still have not seen all of what nature has to offer. "Furthermore, R. andrineae sp. nov. is recognisable from all the species in the section Schistanthe in having an ovary indumentum that consists of scales and stellate hairs." On top of that "The latter had never been observed until now in the section Schistanthe and never in combination with scales in the genus Rhododendron."
Creative essay
Rhododendrons are a plant with flowers that is valued as an ornamental plant because of its desirable growing characteristics. It has the right structure size and many of them are evergreen make it ideal for planning gardens and parks with plants to be grown there. The country of Nepal also uses the flowers as food staple. Honey made from the flowers has potential anti bacterial and anti fungal properties that could be useful in for medical purposes is harnessed.
apa/sources used
Danet, F. (2012). Two new species of Rhododendron L. section Schistanthe Schltr. (Ericaceae) from New Guinea. Adansonia (Paris), 34(2), 343-351.
Ertürk, Ö., Pehlıvan Karakaş, F., Pehlivan, D., & Nas, N. (2009). The Antibacterial and Antifungal Effects of Rhododendron Derived Mad Honey and Extracts of Four Rhododendron Species. Turkish Journal Of Biology, 33(2), 151-158.