208 



GREAT LAUREL. 



Rhododendron maximum, Linnaeus. 



GENTIS DESCRIPTION — The name Rbododculron is of Greek origin aod means Rose tree. 

 It conipris's about 100 species of shrubs and a fow small trees in the northern hemisphere. 

 About 10 species are native to North America and 1 to Pennsjlvaoia. 



FORM — A shnib or small bnshy tree. In this State nsnally a shrub from ."5 12 ft. in 

 height, but in the mountains of the South it maj- reach a height of 35 feet. Stems often 

 twisted, bearing contorted branches which form an irregular round head. 



BARK — Thin, reddish-brown, at first close, Inter peeling off into thin scales. 



TWIGS — At first grenn and eoated with rusty pubescence but become smooth during first 

 winter, and gradually turn to bright red-brown. 



BUDS — Alternate; leaf-buds and flower-buds distinct. Leaf-buds usually axillary sometimes 

 terminal, dark green, cone-shaped, form in midsummer. Flower-buds usually terminal, cone- 

 shape, 1-li inches long, covered by numerous, overlapping, green bracts. 



LEAVES — Alternate, simple, persistent, .clustered at apex of branches, ovate to oblong, 

 acute at apex, rounded to wedge-shaped at l)ase. entire on margin, 4-11 inches long, li-2J Inches 

 wide, thick, leathery, smooth and dark green on upper surface, whitish on lower surface. 



LEAF-SCARS — Alternate, slightly raised, ronspicuous, rounded at base, slightly depressed 

 at top, with several bundle-scars arranged In a U-shaped line. 



FLOWERS — Appear about June after the now leaves are fully developed, are arrnnged in 

 nmbel-like clu;^ters about 4-5 inches In diameter and borne on glaiiduHr pedicels. Imlividual 

 flowers are perfect, pale rose to white In color; upper petals marked by yellowish -green 

 dots. 



FRUIT — A dark reddish-brown capsule about 5 of an inch long, which persists until the 

 following season. Capsules split open lengthwise liberating oblong flattened seeds. Surrounded 

 at the base by persistent calyx and terminatod by persistent linear style. 



WOOD — r>iffuse-porous; hard, strong, brittle, light brown with lighter sapwood. Weighs 

 3?.1'8 lbs. per cubic fcot. Of little commercial use but occasionally tnanufactured into tool 

 handles and engraving blocks. Ex^-ellent for fuel where It reaches a fair size. 



DISTrNGUlSHING CHARACTERISTICS — The Great Laurel, also known as Rhododendron 

 and Rose Bay, can be distinguished from all other species of trees native to Pennsylvania by its 



large, persistent. le.Tthery. simple leaves which are clustered towards the end of the brnnehes 

 and alternate ir their arrangement. Its shrubby form and its preference for mnist h.ibitnts 

 also aid in distinguishing it. The conical flower-buds, which are usually terminal and often 

 over an inch long, are also characteristic. The twigs are evidently marked by the bud-scale 

 scars. 



RANGE — Nova Scotia anc Lake Erie on the north, south along 

 Georgia. 



DISTRIBITTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Found throughout the State. 

 part. Abundant thro,ighout the mountainous parts. 



the mountains to northern 



Rare in the southeastern 



HABITAT — In the North frequents a cold swampy situation. In the South it ascends the 

 mountains to 3,000 feet but remains along the banks of streams. Tolerates most soils except 

 limestone. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — ^The Rhododendron does not reach a large enough size 

 in Pennsylvania to produc-i wood of commercial importance. In the South It often becomes a 

 tree. It is the most attractive shrub in our flora, and will thrive in a variety of situations 

 but prefers moist locations and flees from soils which contain lime. 



