Red Azalea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Red Azalea
• Formosa Azalea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Azalea vittata-punctata
• Azalea breynii
• Rhododendron vittatum
• Azalea indica ignescens
• Rhododendron simsii var. albiflorum
• Azalea vittata
• Rhododendron simsii var. strigosistylum
• Azalea indica var. vittata
• Azalea simsii var. vittata
• Rhododendron viburnifolium
• Azalea indica vittata-punctata
• Rhododendron vittatum var. punctatum
• Rhododendron simsii var. bellum
• Rhododendron calleryi
• Rhododendron simsii var. mesembrinum
• Rhododendron breynii
• Rhododendron indicum var. formosanum
• Rhododendron annamense
• Rhododendron indicum var. ignescens
• Rhododendron petilum
• Rhododendron indicum var. puniceum
• Azalea simsii
• Rhododendron indicum var. simsii
• Azalea indica var. simsii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales, specifically falling into the family Ericaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Rhododendron.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several distinct regions across East Asia. Within China, its distribution spans the South-Central and Southeast territories, as well as the high-altitude areas of Tibet. The species can also be found growing in Korea, extending its range further into Eastern Asia. Additionally, it is documented within the Nansei-shotto islands. Together, these locations define the specific geographical footprint of Rhododendron simsii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rhododendron simsii is defined by its specific altitudinal distribution within montane ecosystems, where it occupies a distinct vertical niche. This species is typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL, demonstrating a significant capacity to adapt to varying topographical gradients. The ecological preference of the plant centers around a mean elevation of 850 m AMSL, suggesting that it thrives most optimally in mid-to-low montane environments. This elevational range dictates the climatic conditions, such as temperature fluctuations and moisture availability, to which the species must adapt to maintain its physiological health and medicinal potency.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

850 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Rhododendron simsii is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it lives for several years and maintains its biological functions through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its foliage patterns, the species is deciduous, undergoing a seasonal cycle where it sheds its leaves annually, typically in response to colder temperatures or changes in photoperiod. This lifecycle allows the plant to enter a period of dormancy, conserving energy during unfavorable environmental conditions before regenerating new growth and flowering during its active growing phase.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rhododendron simsii is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. It is a self-supporting plant that functions independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, as it is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 5 meters, with a mean height of approximately 3.5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

3.5 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rhododendron simsii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for plants in its genus to facilitate carbon fixation. Its foliar morphology is defined by elliptic leaves with entire margins, notably lacking any defensive structures such as thorns or spines. The leaf dimensions vary significantly, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a mean of 3.25 cm, reaching a maximum of 5 cm, while widths fluctuate between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 3 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits specific leaf area (SLA) values that reflect its resource investment and leaf structure, with an SLA minimum of 190.864835 cm²/g, a mean of 214.4553631 cm²/g, and a maximum of 240.49177 cm²/g.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) max:

240.49177 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

214.4553631 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

190.864835 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rhododendron simsii is characterized by the development of specific fruit and seed structures that facilitate its propagation. The plant produces fruits that exhibit a highly consistent morphology, with both the mean and the minimum and maximum recorded lengths measuring exactly 1 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are exceptionally fine and uniform in weight; the seed mass is constant across all recorded observations, with a minimum, mean, and maximum value all reaching 7e-05 g. This uniformity in both fruit dimension and seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output for the species.

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Seed mass mean:

7e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Rhododendron simsii has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-OCTEN-3-OL, Phytol, p-Menth-1-en-8-ol.

1-OCTEN-3-OL

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Phytol

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

p-Menth-1-en-8-ol

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica