Memorable Topics – Threads and posts that are just too good to lose > Plant Information and Portraits

Flora of Nepal expedition 2014- Baglung, Rukum, Dolpa.

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Maggi Young:
Alan's blog post  "Into the Flora of megadiverse Himalayas"   http://researchhimalaya.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/the-flora-of-nepal-project/

alanelliott:

--- Quote from: johnw on December 19, 2014, 12:52:08 PM ---Alan  - Great to follow this expedition.

Is there a chance we will get to see the Rhododendron lepidotum?  Is it not the highest altitude rhodo, but not necassarily so very hardy?

johnw

--- End quote ---

John sorry for taking a while to reply.

Rhododendron lepidotum in Nepal has an altitudinal range from 2000m - 4650m (6500ft - 15,000ft). We saw it around Kayam at 2600m in an open ridge in Quercus forest and also up at 4300-4400m sub-alpine grassland.  Up at that highest altitude they will be under a thick blanket of snow to thermally insulate them from the worst of the cold. So yes not the most hardy despite the altitude.


Habitat


Rhododendron  lepidodtum

johnw:
Alan  - Thanks for the pictures, they were well worth the wait. Marvelous colour.  That's quite an increible altitudinal range, the lower elevations are a surprise.  I do find it hard to imagine a small-leafed lepidote growing in oak woods though, were those woods open to plenty of sunlight?

johnw - -11c & brilliant sunshine

alanelliott:

--- Quote from: johnw on January 06, 2015, 01:54:21 PM ---Alan  - Thanks for the pictures, they were well worth the wait. Marvelous colour.  That's quite an increible altitudinal range, the lower elevations are a surprise.  I do find it hard to imagine a small-leafed lepidote growing in oak woods though, were those woods open to plenty of sunlight?

johnw - -11c & brilliant sunshine

--- End quote ---

It is possible that they were some sort of "amenity planting" at the deurali. Even so it was growing happily.


Rhododendron lepidotum growing where the porters were resting.

Al

ichristie:
Hello Alan once again some fantastic plants and information wish I were with you,  cheers Ian the Christie kind

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