Flower:
-Bright pink
-5-parted petals and sepals
-Zygomorphic
-10 stamens
-1 carpel
Leaves:
-Dark green
-Obovate
-Leathery
-Entire margin
On the lower part of the trail up to Mount Townsend, the Pacific Rhododendron grow in great abundance. We were hiking this trail a little later in the year, than usual, so I think that we saw more of these than in past years.
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Kingdom: Plantae (plants)
Phylum: Magnoliophyta (flowering plants)
Class: Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)
Order: Ericales (heathers, heaths, crowberries, indian pipes, ...)
Family: Ericaceae (heath family)
Genus: Rhododendron (rhododendron)
Species: Rhododendron macrophyllum
These stunning rhododendrons decorate all of campus this time of year with their huge pink and purple flowers. These around Grieg Garden have grown so tall- around 8m and are heavy with flowers. The leaves are thick and waxy, covered in pollen as if sticky themselves.
There were a couple of blooming rhododendron plants growing quite tall both along the side of the road and nestled in the forest. The colors of the blooms ranged from various pinks to light purples.
The ones at sea level are blossoming but this one at about 1,200 feet has not opened yet.
Large evergreen shrub; in cultivation.
Rhododendron macrophyllum (Pacific Rhododendron, Coast Rhododendron or Big Leaf Rhododendron) is a broadleaf evergreen rhododendron species native to western North America.
