Rhododendron metternichii var. hondoense

Japanese: シャクナゲ(石南花) - シャクナゲ（英語表記）Rhododendron metternichii var. hondoense

An evergreen shrub of the Ericaceae family, also known as Honshakunage. It grows in the deep mountains of central and western Honshu and Shikoku, and is well-branched and can reach a height of 4m. The leaves are oblong, 10-15cm long, leathery and glossy on the surface. In April and May, short racemes are produced, and numerous reddish purple to white flowers, each about 5cm in diameter, bloom. Each flower blooms horizontally with a funnel-shaped corolla with seven lobes. The closely related Azuma Shakunage (R. metternichii var. pentamerum) , which grows in central and northern Honshu and has a five-lobed corolla, is also sometimes called Shakunage. Other rhododendron species include the yellow rhododendron R. aureum , which grows in the high mountains north of central Honshu and produces yellow flowers, and the Hakusan rhododendron (Hakusan sekinanka), which has a wide variety of flower colors, including red, pale pink, and white. These species of the genus Rhododendron, which have evergreen, leathery leaves and flowers that grow in clusters at the top of the stem, are collectively called rhododendrons. There are a considerable number of species in the Himalayan region, and these horticultural varieties are also called Western rhododendrons.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ツツジ科の常緑低木で，ホンシャクナゲとも呼ばれる。本州中部以西と四国の深山に生え，よく分枝して高さ 4mに達する。葉は長楕円形で長さ 10～15cm，革質で表面には光沢がある。4～5月頃，短い総状花序を出し，径 5cm内外の紅紫色から白色の花を多数集めて開く。個々の花は横向きに咲き花冠は漏斗形で7裂する。また，本州中部以北に生える近縁種で花冠が5裂するアズマシャクナゲ R. metternichii var. pentamerumをシャクナゲと呼ぶこともある。このほかシャクナゲの類には，本州中部以北の高山に生え黄色の花を咲かせるキバナシャクナゲ R. aureumや，花色が紅色，淡紅色，白色と変異の多いハクサンシャクナゲ (白山石南花)などがあり，ツツジ属のうち，葉が常緑・革質で，花が茎頂に総状に集るこれらの種をシャクナゲと総称する。ヒマラヤ地方にかなりの種類があり，それらの園芸品種も含めてセイヨウシャクナゲと呼ぶ。

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