Rhododendron arboreum subsp. zeylanicum (Booth) Tagg
මා රත්මල්/ මහරත්මල්
Scarlet Rhododendron, Tree Rhododendron

Family - ERICACEAE 

Habit

Small to moderate-sized tree, up to 20 m. 
Woody tree is notable for its attractive bright Red flowers in compact clusters having up to 25 flowers. Trunk stout, usually twisted, thickened at the base. Bark thick, dark grey, deeply furrowed. Tender stems are hairy. The leaves are wide and broad elliptic in shape with margins strongly recurved. Young leaves are poisonous but medicinal. The fruit is a capsule, hard, woody, oval shape and often tipped with a persistent style. Flowering February-July.

Local Distribution: subsp. zeylanicum is an endemic tree that grows in the highlands of Sri Lanka. It can only be seen in montane environments where elevation above sea level is greater than 1500 meters. Common in the forest periphery and the wet pathana grassland of the upper montane zone. It is the most prominent tree in Horton Plains National Park grasslands. In addition to that it could be found Piduruthalagala, Namunukula, Dolosbage, Knuckles, Sripadaya, and Seethaeliya.   

  • Red list 2020 status - Vulnerable
  • Origin - Endemic
  • Protected under FFPO - Yes
Flower

Fruits











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