Rhododendron myrtifolium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron
Species:
R. myrtifolium
Binomial name
Rhododendron myrtifolium
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhododendron kotschyi.

Rhododendron myrtifolium (syn. Rhododendron kotschyi), the myrtle-leaved rhododendron, (Eastern) Carpathian rhododendron,[2] Chervona ruta (Ukrainian: Червона рута) or mountain peony (Romanian: Bujor de munte)[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. This evergreen shrub is common in some high mountain ranges of Eastern Europe, particularly Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine.[4][5]

Rhododendron myrtifolium was first described in 1851 by Schott and Kotschy. It's the only rhododendron species native to the Carpathians and the Balkan Mountains. The species blooms in June-July.[6] It's a close relative of the alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum), replacing it to the east of its range. The main differences are the myrtle-leaved rhododendron shrub's smaller dimensions, hairy pedicels and paler flowers.[7] The two species diverged late, in the late Pliocene and/or Pleistocene.[8]

The myrtle-leaved rhododendron is an endangered and protected relict species in Bulgaria, which is at the southern limit of its distribution area. The species is listed in the Red Book of Bulgaria and Red Book of Ukraine.[9] It grows on the northern slopes of several summits in the Central Balkan National Park, as well as on the northern slope of Belmeken in the Rila National Park. In Bulgaria, it's most commonly found at 2,000-2,500 m above sea level, with smaller habitats down to 1,450 m.[10]

Synonyms

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References

  1. ^ "Europe flora". Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Пошук | Російсько-українські словники". r2u.org.ua. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  3. ^ "Bujorul de munte". www.romaniasalbatica.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  4. ^ "Distribution and phytocoenotic characteristics of relict populations of Rhododendron myrtifolium (ericaceae) in the ukrainian carpathians" (PDF). Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Rhododendron myrtifolium". Rosebay Massachusetts Chapter. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  6. ^ "JARS v54n2 - Rhododendrons in the Former Soviet Union: Eastern Carpathian Species, Rhododendron myrtifolium". scholar.lib.vt.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  7. ^ "Rhododendron myrtifolium - Trees and Shrubs Online". www.treesandshrubsonline.org. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  8. ^ "Inference of taxonomic relationships between Rhododendron ferrugineum and R. myrtifolium (Ericaceae) from leaf and fruit morphologie". academic.oup.com. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  9. ^ "Рододендрон східнокарпатський (рододендрон миртолистий) Rhododendron myrtifolium Schott et Kotschy (R. kotschyi Simonk.) - Червона книга України". redbook-ua.org. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  10. ^ "Myrtle-leaf rhododendron (Rhododendron myrtifolium) communities :: Red Data Book of Bulgaria". e-ecodb.bas.bg. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
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