Today's photograph is courtesy of Ron Long, who sent it along specifically for this "plants of the north" series. Thanks, Ron!
Today's set of links for Lapland rosebay, since I'm still on vacation:
- Rhododendron lapponicum via the Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (includes a number of additional photographs)
- Flora of North America: Rhododendron lapponicum
- the US Forest Service's Celebrating Wildflowers site: Rhododendron lapponicum
- additional photographs via the Toolik-Arctic Geobotanical Atlas
What is amazing to me about these boreal plants is how they've adapted to conditions, keeping everything essential - I can easily recognize this is a rhodo! - but hugging the ground, as if for warmth.
I remember reading a book in which the author describes the miniature flora of Greenland - the tiny birch and maple trees only a few inches high but complete in every detail - but the scientific reasons for their doing so would also be nice to learn. : )
I remember picking alpine willows for a study a few years ago...they hugged the ground were unbelievable (at least to me) for being the same as the glorious giants at lower elevations. Likewise, these Rhododendrons are nothing like the mountain misery sometimes experienced at the bottom of a slope.
Thank you for presenting such a attractive rhodo. It is a small boreal plant, but its flowers are large. That is interesting.
lovely lovey wildflower thank you ron long
i have been to and on top of mount washington
when i lived in the north driveing to see the
the rodeys in bloom was a week end treat
fine series daniel thank you bon bon
Thank you for posting this photo. In the late summer of 2007, I was with the late lamented Captain Richard (Dick) Steele on a plant hunting expedition to western/northern Newfoundland and Labrador. We photographed R. lapponicum growing on the Tablelands, a truly inhospitable environment, and collected seed at L'anse Amour, in Labrador. A friend and fellow traveller on that trip is growing seedlings at his nursery. Every time we see this plant, we think of 'Mr. Rhododendron' Dick Steele.
Truly a favorite of mine. I've had the privilege of seeing it on Mt Washington in NH (fairly common there, but endangered state-wide due to limited habitat) and on Mt Albert in the Gaspe growing on the serpentine tableland.
Kathleen, I would recommend a book called Plant Survival - Adapting to a Hostile World by Brian Capon. 1994 Timber Press. Wonderful drawings and answers to your questions. And not just about Alpine. Now that I have it out, I think I'll reread it.
Hi everyone. obviously you appreciate these alpine miniatures as much as I do. The best book on the subject that I have seen is called LAND ABOVE THE TREES by Ann Zwinger and Beatrice Willard. I think it is out of print but well worth searching out.