Rhododendron hippophaeoides

Balf. & W. W. Sm.

Ericaceae Edible: Flowers 11 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Rhododendron hippophaeoides (灰背杜鹃) is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. It is in the subgenus Rhododendron (scaly or lepidote rhododendrons), subsection Lapponica. It is a small shrub, up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall at maturity, native to altitudes of 2,400–4,800 m (7,900–15,700 ft) in southwest Sichuan and many parts of Yunnan, China. The leaves are up to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long, gray-green above, and with overlapping yellowish-buff scales below. The flowers are bright rose or lavender-blue to bluish purple, or (rarely) white.

Description

A small shrub. It grows 1.2 m tall. The leaves are 4 cm long. They are grey-green above and with overlapping yellow scales underneath. The flowers can be red, blue or white.

Edible Uses

The flowers are eaten as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The flowers are eaten as a vegetable.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows between 2,400-4,800 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, China,

Synonyms

Rhododendron fimbriatum Hutch.

References (1)

Zhang, L., et al, 2016, Ethnobotanical study of traditional edible plants used by the Naxi people during droughts. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 12:39