Rhododendron

Rhododendron

Recently, the Botanical Survey of India has published a new report titled 'Rhododendrons of Sikkim and Darjeeling Himalaya- An Illustrated Account', which lists 45 taxa of rhododendrons.

About rhododendrons:

An estimated 1,000 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhododendron are native to temperate Asia, North America, and Europe as well as tropical Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Many kinds are well-liked decorative plants in gardens and parks due to their stunning clusters of huge, vibrant blooms.
Rhododendrons are woody-stemmed small trees or shrubs that are either evergreen or deciduous and have large, leathery leaves.
Pink Rhododendron is the state flower of Himachal Pradesh in India, whereas Rhododendron arboreum is Nagaland's and Uttarakhand's official state tree.

What are the Report's Key Highlights?

While making up only 0.3% of India's total geographic area, the Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas are home to more than one-third (34%) of the country's rhododendron species.
In India, rhododendrons can be found in 132 taxa (80 species, 25 subspecies, and 27 variations).
Five of the 45 taxa mentioned in the paper are in serious danger as a result of anthropogenic pressures and climate change.
Among the threatened species are Rhododendron edgeworthii, Rhododendron niveum, Rhododendron baileyi, Rhododendron lindleyi, and Rhododendron maddenii.
Since certain rhododendron species have been reported to flower as early as January, rhododendrons are regarded as an indicator species for climate change.

Source: The Hindu

Join Our Telegram

GS-I : Human Geography Vegetation

14 May, 2020
2 Min Read

Rhododendron

Rhododendron is a large genus of flowering plants and is found mainly in Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas and Nilgiris. Some plants of Rhododendron are evergreen and some are deciduous in nature.

The species is found in varied habitats from subtropical forests to alpine shrubs, rhododendrons range from dwarf shrubs to large trees.
The cold, moist slopes and deep valleys of the eastern Himalayas form a conducive habitat for the luxuriant growth of Rhododendron species and rich diversity in the North Eastern States.
The species has been designated as the State tree of Uttarakhand and its blooming in the Garhwal Himalayas is celebrated as ‘Phool Sankranti’, a festival of flowers.
Studies on the flowering cycle have revealed that they are prominent indicators of climate change.
In high-altitude areas of Arunachal Pradesh rhododendrons are routinely cut for firewood by local people, and forest fires in the dry seasons in Manipur and Nagaland were threatening the survival of many species.

Source: Air

Join Our Telegram

Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a and MASS EXTINCTION

Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a and MASS EXTINCTION

25 Dec, 24
SHARE

Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a from the Paris Basin (Environment) Paper-3 PMP OAE 1a refers to a period during the Cretaceous Period (145 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago) when Earth's oceans became depleted of oxygen, causing a significant disruption in marine life. Cause: The event is believed to have been

Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi (Good governance)

26 Dec, 24
SHARE

Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi (Good governance) Governance GS PAPER-2 PMP Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the ‘Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi’ initiative on Good Governance Day, celebrated to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The initiative, which is part of the broader ‘Prashasan Gaon

Major programmes to control Air Pollution

23 Dec, 24
SHARE

Major programmes to control Air Pollution National Clean Air Programme? It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019. It is the first-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target. The

Air pollution and Air quality Measures in India

21 Dec, 24
SHARE

Air pollution and Air quality Measures in India (Environment) GS Paper-3 P-M-P Air pollution may be defined as the presence of any solid, liquid or gaseous substance including noise and radioactive radiation in the atmosphere in such concentration that may be directly and/or indirectly injurious to humans or other l

Geopolitical Significance of Ports

20 Dec, 24
SHARE

Geopolitical Significance of Ports (IR) Act as geopolitical assets: Ports enhance the projection of strategic reach, which helps strengthen the country’s control over important sea and energy supply routes. E.g. Indian Navy’s staging base at Agalega Islands will enable marine patrols