Rhododendron javanicum

Overview

Rhododendron javanicum is one of the flowering plants of the Ericaceae family which is widely distributed to Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi), the Philippines. This species is an endemic plant in Java and is one of the Azalea plants which is an icon of the Cibodas Botanical Gardens. Because of its beautiful flower structure and striking color, R. javanicum is widely planted by the community as an ornamental plant and hedge plant, as well as used as a cut flower. R. javanicum is also believed to have health benefits. 

Vernacular Names

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Agroecology

R. javanicum is found in primary and secondary forests, and even in barren soils near volcanic craters, as well as epiphytes in mangrove forests, from sea level to an altitude of 2,500 m asl. This species is tolerant of moisture and prefers soil conditions with a slightly acidic pH (6.1 - 6.5).

Morphology

• Roots - tap root.
• Stems - spherical in shape, the direction of growth is perpendicular, the surface is grooved (sulcatus), the young stem is green, then turns brown when mature.
• Leaves - single, leafy with 5 corals, oval to lanceolate, leaf base wide to narrow, leaf tip pointed to tapered, leaf edge flat, stemmed, leaf surface smooth, green, leaf bone pinnate, leaf fleshy.
• Flowers - compound, has a calyx like a disc. The flower crown (corolla) is funnel-shaped, slightly fleshy, yellow, orange, red or pink, glabrous on the outside, lobes obovate to subspatulate, the number of petals is 5. The stamens are 10 and red, while the pistil is 1 and also red.
• Fruits - capsule, elongated-cylindrical, greenish-red.

Cultivation

Propagated by shoot cuttings and tissue culture.

Chemical Constituents

Phenolic compounds.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

Treating malaise (the condition of being tired, uncomfortable, and unwell with no known cause).