Maha Rath Mal Tree (Rhododendron arboreum zeylanicum)

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Maharathmal, Rhododendron arboreum zeylanicum, a pretty scarlet bloom which sprinkles a tinge to the misty mountains, belongs to genus Ericaceae is an endemic subspecies of R. arboreum.

Rhododendron arboreum, the tree rhododendron, is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand. It is the national flower of Nepal. In India it is the state tree of Uttarakhand and state flower of Nagaland. Its specific epithet means "tending to be woody or growing in a tree-like form". It has been recorded as reaching heights of 20m ,though more usually 12 m tall and broad. This plant holds the Guinness Record for World's Largest Rhododendron. The tree discovered in 1993 at Mount Japfü in the Kohima District of Nagaland, India, holds the Guinness Record for the tallest Rhododendron at 20 m.

The plant is known as Maha ratmal, Maha Rath Mal, Asela mal in Sinhala. The Sinhalese name "rathmal" is mostly used for the Ixoras, which are not in this family. However, the Rhododendrons are not a common plant in Sri Lanka, and the unsystematic local name seems to be"Maha-rathmal" "Big-Ixora", applied to smaller varieties which are more like ornamental Azelias. Maha Rath Mala is commonly available in Horton Plain, Knuckles mountain range and many of the parts towards the center of Sri Lanka. According to the picturesque details presented the Rhododendron arboreum-subsp.zeylanicum flourishes only in the central hills. Therefore this flower has been accepted as a flower endemic to the central region. Flowers are showy, red in dense globose cymes. Calyx- fine cleft, Corolla-tube spotted funnel shaped, Stamens-hypozygnous declining, Filaments are filiform, Anthers-ovate, and Style is capitate

The official flower of the central province the Rhododendron arboreum - subsp. zeylanicum grows in the regions 1700 – 2300 m above sea level, in Horton plains, Ohiya, Pattipola, Seetha Eliya, Moon Thenna in the Nuwara Eliya district. It is reported that this plant has been found growing in the Knuckles, Namunukula ranges.

This plant grows better in on open plains rather than in forests. It grows up to 2 or 3 feet in open plains and the same is found growing up to 10 or 15 feet in jungles. Apart from surviving in the coold regions of the mountains ,this plant also has been observed to successfully withstand frequent forest fires in the Horton plains being capable of re-grow after destruction by fire. The leaves exhibit thickness in the region of millimeters of 110×50. In common with the leaves of other sub species Rhododendron arboreum - subsp. zeylanicum bears fine brown hairs on the underside of the leaves. This can be considered as an adaptation to withstand extreme cold.

The buds of the Rhododendron arboreum - subsp. zeylanicum are oval in shape and they open out as flowers from time to time. The flowers come out in bunches deep red in colour. Each such bunch of flowers contains 10,20 flowers that can be separated and are 35×20 mm in size.In the Horton plains flowers bloom during April to June in profusion and can be seen adding colour to the mist clad hills and presents a lovely resplendent spectacle while adding to the beauty of nature attracts bee’s butterflies and birds to the nectar provided and thus presence a spectacle of outstanding beauty, in the hills.

Health benefits of Tree Rhododendron
Rhododendron arboreum, commonly known as tree rhododendron is an evergreen shrub or small tree belonging to Ericaceae with a showy display of bright red flowers. The plant is native to Himalayas from Kashmir eastwards to Nagaland and widely grows in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand. Rhododendron arboreum is the national flower of Nepal. In India it is the state tree of Uttarakhand and the state flower of Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Rhododendron is derived from Greek word: “rhodo” means “rose” and “Dendron” means “tree.” Its name means “tending to be woody or growing in a tree-like form.” The plant is commonly used in gardens, plantations due to its aesthetic value of attractive flower tree plant.

The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials – the flowers and bark are ingredients of commercial cosmetic preparations. The flowers are sold in local markets and used as offerings in temples. The plant can be used as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland and is often grown as an ornamental in gardens. It plays a major role in traditional remedies for different diseases due to its phytochemical potential. It is widely cultivated in different parts of the world for to its aesthetic, commercial and medicinal values.

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