Editor's note: Big Tree Rhododendron has its ancient and noble bloodline, elegant and luxurious appearance, and a strong body that stands for the heroes. It deserves to be the king of the world Rhododendron . His discovery is considered one of the most important discoveries of the international azalea, and is known as the treasure of the mountain-keeping treasure of the Gaoligong Mountain. The places where the big azalea grows are rarely visited. In the past hundred years since its discovery, only a very small number of lucky people have seen the real appearance of the big azalea in the dense forest, adding countless mysterious colors.
Starting from this issue, a total of 12 papers on the Big Tree Rhododendron series have been launched, and many of the contents have never been covered by anyone in the industry. The main exciting contents involved in the paper include: from the distribution range of the big tree azalea, correcting the academic community that it has always believed that the big tree azalea is only distributed in the Tengchong area; from the source of the big tree azalea specimen of the Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden , the big tree azalea has been discussed, solving the misunderstanding that the academic community has always believed that the big tree azalea was cut down in 1919; the mutual achievements and life-seeking entanglement between the big tree azalea and the famous plant hunter Forrest , Forrest and his Naxi tribe expedition team, , Zhao Chengzhang, and others; the big tree cuckoo and the magical twig of the magical , co-evolution of , telling the magic of things that will turn out to the extreme, why the smallest seed in nature can grow into the largest tree; the paper finally returns to , Biodiversity Protection , telling the importance of giant trees to ecological security, protecting the giant trees on the top of the forest is to protect humans themselves.
In order to write this series of papers well, the team called first-hand information from the British Museum, the London Museum of Natural History, and the Royal Botanical Garden of Edinburgh, and the original origin of the big tree azalea for the first time from the source of various materials; our team also proposed the concept of "habitat literature" for the first time, trying to use the technique of wonderful literary stories to dedicate the history of a wonderful but unknown Chinese plant species alpine azalea to readers who follow us.
Abstract: Azalea is known as the "king of flowers and trees" by the international horticulture community, and is a symbol of noble status in the upper class of Western society. The big tree azalea is considered the king of the azalea family, and his discovery is considered one of the most significant discoveries of the international azalea species. With its ancient and noble bloodline, elegant and luxurious appearance, and strong body that stands out as the king of the azaleas in Gaoligong Mountain. It is considered to be the treasure of Gaoligong Mountain and the supreme among the azaleas.
Azalea is noble and gorgeous, colorful and colorful. It is praised by the international horticulture community as the "king of woody flowers and trees". It is sought after by the Western royal family, princes and nobles and other upper-class societies. It has become a symbol of noble status and shines in the international horticulture community. Even when Queen of England attended the Chelsea Flower Exhibition , the flowers in their hands were all alpine azaleas, which shows the noble status of azaleas in the world horticulture industry. "Looking back, the peaches and plums are colorless, and the lotus is not a flower." For thousands of years, countless people have been fascinated by the peerless appearance of azaleas, and are one of the top ten famous flowers in our country.
2018 taken on February 2, 2018 at Dahetou Village, Datang Village, Jietou Town, Tengchong, Yunnan
altitude 2200m-2550m evergreen broad-leaved forest
picture provided by: Botanist Zhuang Ping
milky yellow rhododendron
British Queen attended Chelsea with alpine rhododendrons in her hand Huazhan
Gaoligong Mountain is located in the west of the three rivers flowing together in the Hengduan Mountains. The three near-longitudinal rivers, Nujiang, Lancang River , and Jinsha River , are separated by the mountain ranges from each other. Each mountain range changes in latitude, vertical, slope, slope and habitat combinations, and creates external conditions for the formation of special flora and vegetation types. Therefore, this area with the richest species in the world is formed and is known as the "world species gene bank". Gaoligong Mountain alpine azalea is particularly eye-catching. It is also the main distribution area of alpine azaleas in my country and the world. It is a veritable natural azalea garden. In the north of Gaoligong Mountain, the place where it borders Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is considered by Forrest as the birthplace of the world's azaleas and a holy place for studying alpine azaleas.
Shangri-La of Life—Broadly Hengduan Mountains
White Dewdrops Rhododendron
Tall alpine rhododendron forest
1753Swedish Naturalist Linnae created the genus of the Rhododendron in the published "Plant Species", and the Rhododendron officially entered the vision of international horticulturalists. Rhododendrons are a huge flower family. There are 967 plants belonging to the genus Rhododendron family Rhododendrons in plant classification. Among the azaleas around the world, there are 561 species of azaleas in my country, of which 420 are endemic to my country. Yunnan is the distribution center and birthplace of azaleas, with a total of 243 species of azaleas distribution. Gaoligong Mountain is the main distribution area of azalea in my country, and Gaoligong Mountain is the main distribution area of azalea in my country. According to expert statistics, there are 235 species. Sichuan azaleas, which are close to Yunnan, are also extremely rich, with more than 180 species.
Gaoligong Mountain rhododendron and dense forests
Horse-tatted rhododendron
Linnai "Natural System"
Among all the azaleas in the world, the most eye-catching, most famous and legendary is the big tree rhododendron in Gaoligong Mountain (Rhododendron protistum Balf. f. et Forrest var. giganteum (Tagg) Chamb. ex Cullen et Chamb. ), also known as the giant tree rhododendron, is known as the "king of azaleas". The big tree azalea is the king of the azalea family, and his discovery is considered one of the most important discoveries of the international azalea. With its ancient and noble bloodline, elegant and luxurious appearance, and strong body that stands out as the king of azaleas in the world, the big tree azalea is considered to be the treasure of Gaoligong Mountain.
thick big tree rhododendron king trunk
Gaoligong Mountain big tree rhododendron forest
big tree rhododendron is an evergreen tree species of the Rhododendron genus Rhododendron genus Rhododendron genus Balf.F.et Forrest (the specimen of the rhododendron model was taken from Gongshan, Yunnan). The difference from the original variant is that the back of the leaves of this variant are completely covered with hair, and the hair is light cinnamon-colored, loose and does not fall off. When Forrest first discovered the big azalea, he thought it was the same species as the buckwheat, because there was basically no difference in appearance of these two azaleas. However, Zhao Chengzhang, the captain of his Naxi collection team, and several members firmly believed that the buckoo and the big tree auckoo were two species, and they had a fierce disagreement. In the end, Forrest respected their opinions and explained the disagreement in his report to his patron Williams. With the further deepening of scientific research on azalea, scientists have now compared and believed that the big tree azalea is a variant of the azalea.
head azalea pattern specimen
collector/exploration team: George Forrest
collection number: 16351
collection date: May 1918
country of origin: China: Yunnan, WNW
collection location: Mekong River/Salwen River watershed
habitat: in the azalea forest.
Description: 20-30 feet shrub; fleshy, milky white and red rose .
Royal Botanical Garden of Edinburgh
Big Tree Azalea Pattern Specimen
Collector/Expedition: George Forrest
Collection Number: 19335
Collection Date: March 1921
Country of Origin: China: Yunnan, W
Collection Location: 'Nmai kha Salween East of the dividing line
Latitude: 25° 40' N, Longitude: 98° 25' E
Habitat: Open forest
Description: 80 feet of tree; flowers are deep rose-red, without markings, but with slight dark red spots at the base.
Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden
Big tree azalea
Feng Xianjie paints specimens of silver-gray azalea, azalea, and azalea, and it can be seen that they only have subtle differences
Distribution points of nine known populations of R. protistum var. giganteum. LY: Longyuan Longyuan; DL: Dulong; SD: Sandui; QQ: Qiqi; FS: Fugongshibagongli 18 kilometers; PMW: Pianma-West; PME: Pianma-East; DHT: Dahetou; CZH: Cizhuhe
Nine large trees azalea distribution points The number of adult large trees azaleas is estimated to be
blooming large trees azaleas
blooming large trees azaleas
large trees azaleas
large trees azaleas
large trees azaleas distribution area is narrow and the number is sparse. It is now known that there are 9 large tree azalea distribution points in China, all of which are in mixed forests with an altitude of 2100-3300m in Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve on the Sino-Myanmar border, mainly distributed in counties and cities such as Gongshan , Fugong , Lushui and Tengchong. Among them, the large tree, azalea has the most adult plants, and the most concentrated area is 18 kilometers from Fugong. There are 1,667 adult trees. When the flowers bloom, they are as brilliant as clouds and magnificent. The big tree azalea in Gongshan County is also very famous. It is easier to see flowers on the canopy, and the colors are more bright and beautiful than Tengchong, and they are full of jewelry. The most famous distribution area of the big tree azalea is in Tengchong. The main reason is that it was the first place to discover big tree azalea. In addition, Tengchong has a developed tourism industry and various supporting facilities are relatively complete, so tourists are more likely to visit big tree azalea, so they are famous.
Tengchong is closer to the south and the climate is moister, so the branches of the big tree azalea here are taller than other distribution areas, which is more likely to cause visual impact. The big tree azalea distributed in other areas has high mountains and long roads, and is isolated from the world, so tourists cannot reach it, so it is unknown, so it gives people the illusion that the big tree azalea only has in Tengchong. The large tree azaleas of Tengchong are mainly distributed on both sides of the valleys of Dahetou and Cizhu River in Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve in Jietou Town. The vegetation type is Zhongshan wet evergreen broad-leaved forest. The upper layer of the community appearance is mainly evergreen tree . At the same time, there are also a small number of tree species that change leaves in dry season, and the forest canopy is uneven. Its main distribution area is 2340-2600 m above sea level in the Gaoligong Mountain Mountains, with an annual average temperature of 11 ℃, the hottest monthly average temperature is about 16 ℃, the extreme highest temperature is about 27.8 ℃, the coldest monthly average temperature is about 3.50 ℃, and the extreme lowest temperature is below 0 ℃.
Kaoligong Mountain's dense forest
Big tree Rhododendron
Horse tungshan County's Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve Big Tree Rhododendron
Great tree Rhododendron in the snow
Tengchong Big Tree Rhododendron sloops mainly grows Gaoligong Mountain's western slope is known as the rain screen in western Yunnan, Longchuan River flows from north to south on the western slope of Gaoligong Mountain. To the west Bay of Bengal The warm and humid monsoon from the Indian Ocean blows brings a lot of water vapor here, with an average annual precipitation of about 2,000 mm, the dry and wet seasons are distinct, and the concentrated annual precipitation in the rainy season (May-October), of which there is particularly much rainfall in July-September, and the dry season (November-April) is less rainy, which is a typical subtropical monsoon climate . The annual average relative humidity in this area is above 80%, and the soil is yellow-brown soil with a medium thickness. The environment is mostly rainy and humid, warm and cool, and loose soil and good drainage. Because the area has a low latitude and a warm and humid climate, ecological conditions such as temperature, rainfall, and soil are very suitable for the growth of alpine azaleas. However, in some special years, snow will also occur in high-altitude areas where large azaleas grow. Especially the big tree azalea in Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve in Gongshan County is located at a high latitude and altitude. When the flowers bloom, the trees are often full of flowers and the white snow, and the snow-skinned skin is evenly filled with jade skin, and the light stacks are heavy, making it beautiful.
References:
1, "Plant Hunter" Ying, Toby Musgrave; Ying, Chris Gasner.
2, "Gaoka Collection of Big Trees" Feng Guomei "World of Life"
3, "George Forest in China" Geng Yuying
4, "From the Himalayas to the European continent, the century-old road of Chinese azaleas" Geng Yuying "Forests and Humans"
5, "Discussion on the Protection of Rhododendrons of Extremely Small Populations" Su Kai Wen Shen Li Xin Pan Yao "Green Technology"
6, "The King of Azaleas I Know" Zhuang Ping
7, "Research on the Flora of the Rhododendrons of Gaoligong Mountain Rhododendron Family Flora Research 》Li Xinhui, Wang Dandan, Li Heng《Western Forestry Science》
8《Termine Plants in the Azaleas in Gaoligong Mountain Area》Dao Zhiling and Guo Huijun》Journal of Plant Classification and Resources》
9》《The Past and Present of Big Tree Rhododendron》Hong Kong Mountain National Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain National Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain National Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Nature Reserve》Hong Kong Mountain Current conservation status and reproductive biology of the giant tree Rhododendron in China, September 2018《Nordic Journal of Botany》Shenghui Li, Weibang Sun, Yong-Peng Ma
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