TAILIEUCHUNG - Notes on the Sikkim Himalayan rhododendrons: A taxa of great conservation importance
Rhododendrons form dominating species all along the temperate, subalpine and alpine zones in the Sikkim Himalaya. Rhododendron L. is one of the largest genus of the Ericaceae family, occurring in the higher altitudes having ecological significance and economic importance in addition to its splendiferous flowers. It has aesthetic, sacred, aromatic, medicinal and fuelwood values. | Research Note Turk J Bot 33 (2009) 305-310 © TÜBİTAK doi: Notes on the Sikkim Himalayan rhododendrons: a taxa of great conservation importance Kaushal K SINGH . Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Sikkim Unit, Pangthang, Post Box-24, Gangtok, Sikkim-737 101 - INDIA Received: Accepted: Abstract: Rhododendrons form dominating species all along the temperate, subalpine and alpine zones in the Sikkim Himalaya. Rhododendron L. is one of the largest genus of the Ericaceae family, occurring in the higher altitudes having ecological significance and economic importance in addition to its splendiferous flowers. It has aesthetic, sacred, aromatic, medicinal and fuelwood values. There are 36 species with 45 different forms (including subspecies and varieties) in the Sikkim Himalaya. Using IUCN guidelines for categorization eight species are being evaluated according to population characters. It has been observed recently that the rhododendrons of the region are under pressure, which are basically exploitations, and some of the species are in the verge of extinction. An effort is made in this note to understand the current status of the rhododendrons in the region. Key words: Rhododendron, conservation, Sikkim Himalaya Introduction Rhododendron L. was for the first time described by Carl Linnaeus in 1737 in Genera Plantarum. Rhododendron are the denizens of high altitude comprising about 1000 species mainly inhabiting a vast section of southeastern Asia stretching from the northwestern Himalaya through Nepal, Sikkim, eastern Tibet, Bhutan, Arunanchal Pradesh, northern Myanmar and western and central China; more than 90% of the world’s population of Rhododendron are from this region (Leach, 1961; Chamberlain et al., 1996). Sikkim is a small state with an area of 7096 km2 and a population of 405505, with an average density of 57 persons per km2 (1991 census). The state extends between 27°4'46" to 28°7'48" N .
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