Wood Structural Diversity Among Rhododendron Species Of Arunachal Pradesh India

Abstract

Rhododendron is one of the oldest and mega diverse genera of flowering plants and newlinebelongs to family Ericaceae. Most of Rhododendron species are evergreen, semi-deciduous or newlinedeciduous shrubs and trees with height from 2.5 cm to 30 m. They grow well in loose, open, newlinewell-aerated acidic soil having plenty of humus for retaining moisture. It is one of the dominant newlineplant components in cold temperate, subalpine, and alpine regions of Western Arunachal newlinePradesh providing food and shelter to birds, insects and animals supporting the existence of newlineother biodiversity components. It also plays an important role in preventing soil erosion and newlinemaintaining the ecological balance in the surrounding ecosystem. newlineIn India, there are about 132 taxa of Rhododendron (80 species, 25 subspecies and 27 newlinevarieties) of which 98% are restricted in the Himalayan region at an elevation above 1200m asl. newlineIn Arunachal Pradesh, there are 119 taxa (74 species, 21 subspecies and 24 varieties) and newlineaccount about 90% of Indian Rhododendron diversity. newlineSeveral species of Rhododendron are used for aesthetic purposes and have newlineethnobotanical, social and economic importance throughout the world. Leaves, flowers and newlinewood of Rhododendron are utilized for various purposes. R. arboreum is one of the most newlineimpressive, well documented and utilized species throughout the world. Traditionally, it has newlinebeen used in treatment of several aliments such as inflammatory conditions, gastrointestinal newlinedisorders, pain, common cold, asthma, skin diseases, etc. Despite reports of its toxicity, the newlinespecies is reported in several ancient Chinese, North American and European traditional newlinemedicinal systems. Flowers of R. arboreum are consumed raw and even used for preparing newlinejuice, jams and jellies owing to its several health benefits. In India, flowers of R. arboreum after newlinedrying are used to treat several diseases such as diarrhoea, blood dysentery, rheumatism and newlinesciatica. Fresh flowers are also used for making local wine in Darjeeling hills. Flowers from newlineother species such as R. cinnab