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Lapland rhododendron, Lapland rose-bay

Habit Shrubs, to 0.5(–0.7) m, rhizomatous.
Stems

prostrate to erect;

bark ± smooth to vertically furrowed, shredding;

twigs with straw-colored to ferruginous, multicellular, broad-rimmed, peltate scales and unicellular-hairy.

Leaves

persistent;

petiole with broad-rimmed, glandular-peltate scales;

blade oblong-elliptic to elliptic, ovate, or obovate, 0.4–2(–2.5) × 0.2–0.7(–0.9) cm, coriaceous, margins entire, plane to revolute, with broad-rimmed scales, apex obtuse to rounded or mucronate, surfaces with conspicuous, straw-colored or golden to ferruginous, broad-rimmed, glandular-peltate scales and unicellular-hairy abaxially.

Inflorescences

fasciculate racemes, 3–6-flowered;

bracts similar to bud scales.

Pedicels

2.5–14 mm, with ferruginous scales and often unicellular-hairy.

Flowers

opening before development of leaves, erect to horizontal, fragrant;

calyx lobes 0.5–2 mm, with ferruginous scales and unicellular-hairy, margins ciliate, unicellular and multicellular eglandular-hairy;

corolla rose to purple, sometimes white, without blotch, broadly funnelform, (6.5–)7.5–14(–15) mm, glabrous on outer surface, petals connate (for 3/4+ their lengths), lobes 4.5–8.5 mm, tube gradually expanding into lobes, 1.5–6.5 mm;

stamens 5–10, slightly exserted, ± unequal, 7–13 mm;

filaments glabrous or proximally unicellular-hairy.

Capsules

borne on erect pedicels, 4–7 × 2–3 mm, with ferruginous, peltate scales and unicellular-hairy.

Seeds

without distinct tails;

testa closely appressed.

Floral

bud scales ferruginous-lepidote, sometimes also unicellular-hairy abaxially, margins ± ciliate, unicellular and multicellular, elongate eglandular-hairy.

2n

= 26, 52.

Rhododendron lapponicum

Phenology Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat Arctic and alpine tundra, rocky barrens and heaths or thickets, raised beach ridges, sandy stream banks
Elevation 0-1900 m (0-6200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; ME; NH; NY; WI; AB; BC; MB; NF; NS; NT; NU; ON; QC; YT; Greenland; Europe (Russia, Scandinavia); Asia (Siberia)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Rhododendron lapponicum is known to hybridize with R. tomentosum in Greenland, producing R. ×vanhoeffenii Abromeit.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 8, p. 462.
Parent taxa Ericaceae > subfam. Ericoideae > Rhododendron
Sibling taxa
R. alabamense, R. albiflorum, R. arborescens, R. atlanticum, R. austrinum, R. calendulaceum, R. canadense, R. canescens, R. catawbiense, R. columbianum, R. cumberlandense, R. eastmanii, R. flammeum, R. groenlandicum, R. macrophyllum, R. maximum, R. minus, R. occidentale, R. periclymenoides, R. prinophyllum, R. prunifolium, R. tomentosum, R. vaseyi, R. viscosum
Synonyms Azalea lapponica
Name authority (Linnaeus) Wahlenberg: Fl. Lapp., 104. 1812 ,
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