Rhododendrons of the Himalaya

"The Himalaya is truly Rhododendron country. As you make your way along the Dzongri trail in Sikkim, extensive forests of Rhododendron can be seen all along the trail and across large tracts of the Dzongri meadows. This flower is the breathtaking glory of Sikkim and the land boasts of some 30 species from the gigantic Rhododendron grande –a tree that towers at 40 feet; to the diminutive nivale that rises barely 2 inches from the ground.

Some like the Dalhousiae are epiphytes growing on top of tall trees and barely visible from below; others are painted prima donnas: like the conspicuous falconeri with its large fleshy leaves covered with rust-colored filaments on their underside. The Rhodondendron literally live off its looks: the highly colored flowers are crucial since they are the only source of attraction for bees and butterflies since no species has any fragrance.

These trails were also the favorite stamping ground of the man who pioneered the first attempt to systematically explore the land and document information about the flora and fauna of the Eastern Himalaya: Joseph Dalton Hooker. The British botanist was the son of the first Director of London’s renowned Kew Gardens, and a close friend of Darwin’s. After obtaining his MD from Glasgow University in 1839, young Hooker traveled extensively for most of his life going off on botanical expeditions to all corners of the world (including the Antarctic region) and publishing prolifically on his findings and theories.


 He came to Sikkim for the first time in 1848 and his year-long travels resulted in an amazing record of the numerous species of animal and plant life, many if which turned out to be completely new biological and botanical discoveries. Numerous species of rhododendrons, orchids (like the spectacular golden yellow Dendobrium Hookeriana with its deeply fringed lips and rich purple spots) and ferns are named after Hooker in acknowledgement of his having brought them to the notice of the western world.

 He published Rhododendrons of Sikkim in 1849 (considered even today to be the authoritative text on the subject); while his Himalayan Journals – a travelogue – is a classic treasured by naturalists, historian and sociologists. The stunning botanical drawings are now valued as works of art,  Hooker succeeded his father to the Directorship of Kew in 1856. "

from Sikkim -  A Traveller's Guide excerpt by Arundhati Ray 

Rhododendron Dalhousiae - Joseph Dalton Hooker illustrated by Walter Hood Fitch

A lot of information about the rhododendron species is available at this site run by my friend Hans Rudolf Lytchoff  Eiberg   http://www.rhododendron.dk/index.html

Some photographs of rhododendrons from different parts of the Himalaya are below:

Rhododendron wallichii

Rhododendron campanulatum

Rhododendron lepidotum

Rhododendron campylocarpum

Rhododendron setosum

Rhododendron cinnabarinum

 Rhododendron  arboreum var. album

Rhododendron arboreum var arboreum

 Rhododendron arboreum var arboreum f. roseum

 Rhododendron campanulatum var aeruginosum

For more images from the Himalaya do visit www.sujoydas.com

For our treks and photo workshops in the Himalaya do visit www.southcol.com