''Rhododendron minus'' var. ''chapmanii'' (syn. ''Rhododendron chapmanii''), also known as Chapman's rhododendron, is an endangered variety, endemic to

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, of the evergreen Piedmont rhododendron.

Description

Chapman's rhododendron grows to 2 metres tall and has an erect habit. New growth is red-brown, turning gray with age. The leaves are elliptic and are 3 to 6.5 cm long. Pink flowers with 5 petals and 10

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s appear in the spring (March to April in Florida).

Distribution

There are three separate populations of the species within Florida, one in

Clay County Clay County is the name of 18 counties in the United States. Most are named for Henry Clay, U.S. Senator and statesman: * Clay County, Alabama * Clay County, Arkansas (named for John Clayton, and originally named Clayton County) * Clay County, Flor ...

, the second in Gulf County and the third on the county line of Gadsden and

Liberty Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom. In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...

counties.''Rhododendron chapmanii''.
''Endangered and Threatened Species of the Southeastern United States (The Red Book) FWS Region 4''. (As of 2/91).

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7321152 minus var. chapmanii Endemic flora of Florida Endangered flora of the United States Flora without expected TNC conservation status