Jammu And Kashmir – Common Rhododendron
Common Name: Common rhododendron
Scientific Name: Rhododendron ponticum
Description: Up to five meters tall, the common rhododendron is a compact, thick shrub. It has violet-purple flowers with tiny greenish-yellow dots and long, evergreen leaves. The leaves measure 6 to 18 cm (2.4 to 7.1 in) in length and 2 to 5 cm (0.79 to 1.97 in) in width. They are evergreen.
Uses: It is used as a stand-alone ornamental plant as well as, more commonly, as a rootstock for grafting other, more aesthetically pleasing rhododendrons onto. The honey that is made from the pollen of this plant’s blooms is known as “mad honey” because it contains toxic diterpenes (grayanotoxins) that can be extremely hazardous and cause severe hypotension and bradycardia in humans if taken in large enough quantities.