Rhododendron menziesii

Rhododendron menziesii (Menziesia ferruginea) [1] [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Rhododendron
Species:	R. menziesii
Binomial name
Rhododendron menziesii Craven
Synonyms
Menziesia ferruginea Sm. [1] [2]

Rhododendron menziesii, also classified as Menziesia ferruginea, ^{[1] [2]} is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae, known by several common names, including rusty menziesia, false huckleberry, fool's huckleberry and mock azalea.

Description

Rhododendron menziesii is a mostly erect or spreading shrub often exceeding 3 metres (9.8 ft) in height, and reaching lower heights at higher elevations. ^[3]

Its branches are coated in thin, scaly, shreddy bark and its twigs with fine glandular hairs.

The alternately arranged deciduous leaves are oval in shape with pointed tips, reaching 4 to 6 centimeters long. The leaves are hairy, glandular, and sticky in texture, and have an unpleasant skunklike odor when crushed. ^[3]

The inflorescence is a loose cluster of hanging bell- or cup-shaped flowers in shades of pink to orange to yellow-green. The flower has 4 to 5 petals which are mostly fused into a cylinder, and eight stamens inside. The bloom period is June and July. ^{[1] [2]}

The fruit is a valved capsule under a centimeter long which contains many seeds.

Distribution and habitat

The shrub is native to northwestern North America from Alaska through the Pacific Northwest to northwestern California and Wyoming. ^{[1] [2]}

It is a member of the flora in mountain forests. It grows in the understory of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), Pacific silver fir (A. amabilis), Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), ^[2] western redcedar (Thuja plicata), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and other conifers. ^[3]

The plant prefers cold, wet, densely vegetated habitats where it can grow in deep shade. ^[3]

See also

• Flora of the West Coast of the United States
• Flora of the Cascade Range

References

1. Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Menziesia ferruginea . accessed 16 May 2017.
2. Calflora: Menziesia ferruginea . accessed 17 May 2017.
3. "Menziesia ferruginea". www.fs.fed.us.

External links

• Calflora Database: Menziesia ferruginea (Mock azalea, Rusty menziesia) — active name (5−2017).
• Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Menziesia ferruginea — active name (2017).
• USDA Plants Profile for Menziesia ferruginea (rusty menziesia) — active name (5−2017).
• Photo gallery for Menziesia ferruginea — active name (2017).