Vireya RhododendronRhododendron
(roh-do-DEN-dron)
Click Here for a Larger Version
These plants are often referred to as tropical rhododendrons or the Malesian Rhododendron neither of which is the best term to use. I simply call them Vireya. There was quite a few specimens at the Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens near Hilo. Having the plants grouped together and in bloom was a special treat. The Zoo and Gardens are small but had some interesting things and I was glad I stopped in. Since it was free the price was certainly right.
Click Here for a Larger VersionThere are about 330 different species of Vireya Rhododendrons and hundreds of cultivars. They never have blue pigment in the flowers and nor are the flowers spotted. These plants cannot tolerate frost and often grow in the cooler upper elevation ( 3,000-7,500 feet) mountain areas of the Philippines, Borneo, New Guinea and Indonesia and the surrounding island groups. A few species are considered native to India, Australia, Taiwan and the Solomon Islands. They grow as epiphytes (a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic) in the wild but can also be terrestrial in habit. The flowers of the white one were particularly fragrant.
Click Here for a Larger Version
7 comments:
tropical rhododendrons?? wow! love that white one.
aloha, it looks like you had the perfect visit to hawaii and all the various gardens here, i can see by the photo's you captured alot of treasures including the amherstia nobilis which is an amazing tree....i would love to get one and still have to visit the grower here since i heard the prices are finally not outrageously expensive...i love all your beautiful photo captures!
Wow, I love the white one at the top. Such cute flowers!
Greeetings from Sweden, I love your photos!
Have a nice evening,
Hillevissan
nice flowers. hope you keep updating the photo galleries here. me too have some kerala flower pics in my blog pixelshots with the flower names and info. flowers like jamanthy, violet dahlias, blanket flower, shoe flowers, water hyacinth flowers, kanikonna or gold shower,medicinal flowers,herbal flowers,shankupushpam,blue pea,butterflypea,mickey mouse flowers,purple hearts,wandering jews,purple queen, hydranchea, kerala rose flowers,neelakurinjy etc.
cu around
kerala photo blog
kerala elephants
I love the white ones in the first shot. Never seen white rhododendrons before. You certainly know a lot about flowers and you take lovely photos of them as well!
Lovely photos. Rhododenrons are not seen much where I live because our soil is so alkaline. They are so beautiful though, I wish I could grow them. These are very interesting being that they're grown in Hawaii. Maybe I should learn more about these. Great post. :)
I like your blog, so many beautiful flower images! And thanks for visiting mine!
Post a Comment