Rhododendron Wattii

Why in News?

Researchers have identified the last tree which is standing in a popular trekking destination in Nagaland.

Rhododendron Wattii – It is a small tree attaining a maximum height of 25 feet.

Rhododendron has more than 1,000 species of worldwide and the northeastern region has 129 of the 132 taxa recorded in India.

It is an evergreen plant, and leaf renewal occurs throughout the year.
1^st identified by – Sir George Watt from Nagaland’s Japfu Hill range during his 1882-85 survey.
Located in – Dzukou Valley, Nagpur which extends into the adjoining Manipur.
Habitat – It grows on rocky hill slopes with other Rhododendron species, dwarf bamboo, mosses, and ferns.
Distribution – Endemic to Manipur and Nagaland.

Seed – They are fusiform and winged, which retain viability for about one year when stored at normal temperature and humidity.
No seedlings were observed in its natural habitat.
Seeding capacity – It produces numerous seeds after the flowers are pollinated mainly by the fire-tailed sunbird and bumble bees.
Leaves – They are obovate to oblong, apex rounded, apiculate, base rounded, glabrous above, with a sparse whitish felted indumentum beneath.
Flowers – It present in trusses of 18-25 flowers are tubular-campanulate, corolla 6-lobed, pink with darker flecks and purplish basal patches.
Flowering period – End of February to April.
Fruit – It is a capsule that is oblong, grooved, and dehisce from the top by longitudinal slits.
Fruiting period – April to December.
Factors responsible for disappearance
- Poor seedling survivability
- Anthropogenic activities
- Wildfires in a Dzukou valley burnt for 2 weeks in 2020-21.
Conservation status – IUCN status – Vulnerable.