Rhododendron pruniflorum
| Rhododendron pruniflorum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Rhododendron |
| Species: | R. pruniflorum |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhododendron pruniflorum | |
| Synonyms | |
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Rhododendron pruniflorum, the plum-flowered rhododendron, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. It is an open, often rather leggy shrub found in northern Myanmar and nearby parts of India at elevations up to 4,000 m (13,000 ft). Growing to 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft), it occurs in coniferous woodlands that are dominated by species of fir (Abies).
The aromatic leaves are often glaucous, and the undersides have a coating of fine, pale grey scales. As the name pruniflorum (plum-flowered) suggests, the small, waxy flowers are an unusual plum-purple-red shade, though they may also be mauve to pink. The heads of 3–10 small flowers open late, not until early summer at higher elevations.