Rhododendron alabamense

Family:ERICACEAE
Species:Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
Common Name:Alabama Azalea
Habitat:**
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Shrub
Duration:Perennial
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:RHAL5
Plant Notes:Alabama Azalea, is a native deciduous woody shrub in the Azalea family (Ericaceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama in hardwood forests, on slopes, along ridges, and on hill sides. The Alabama Azalea grows in drier woodlands than most of our other native azaleas. It is a large shrub reaching 9-15 feet in height. It often forms large clones from stolons. The bark is smooth and brownish-gray. Young twigs are pubescent with unicellular and multicellular hairs. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate to obovate in outline, with ciliate margins. The leaves are pubescent or glabrous on the upper surface and pubescent on the lower surface. Leaves turn yellow to brown before falling in the autumn. Flowers are produced in terminal inflorescences of 6-7 flowers on short pedicels. Flowers open before or with the unfolding of the new leaves. The flowers are weakly bilaterally symmetrical, funnelform, with 5 spreading lobes. The flowers are pubescent with eglandular and scattered glandular hairs, white or pink-tinged in color with a contrasting yellow blotch on the upper lobe, and very fragrant with a lemon scent. Michael Dirr called it "possibly the most fragrant of the native azaleas". The stamens and stigma are long exserted. The fruit is a pubescent capsule. This species was first recognized as unusual by the early Alabama botanist Charles Mohr. He observed the plant in Cullman County in northeast Alabama, but identified it as a white flowered form of Rhododendron nudiflorum (Linnaeus) Torrey. It was not until 1921 that the new species was described. – A. Diamond
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Native
References:**
Specimen: View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyERICACEAE - Heath family
Genus Rhododendron
Species Rhododendron alabamense Rehder - Alabama Azalea

Citation

Citation Rhododendron alabamense Rehder, Monogr. Azaleas 141–143. 1921.
Basionym: **
Type: USA: ALABAMA: Cullman Co.: Without locality, 21 May 1902, Biltmore Herb. H/6292 (holotype: US).

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Azalea alabamensis Azalea alabamensis (Rehder) Ashe, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 38: 90. 1922.Rhododendron alabamense Rehder 1921. 
Azalea alabamensis    

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Bibb, Blount, Butler, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Elmore, Escambia, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Shelby, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Wilcox, Winston

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, JSU, SAMF, TROY, UNA, USAM, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1888 - 1995

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.
Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used
Image
SAMF0004070 Blount 01 Jun 1956 Avery, J.C.
s.n.
SAMF
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
AUA000041936 Cullman 16 May 1923 Wolf, Wolfgang
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
TROY000037809 Blount 14 Apr 2012 Keener, Brian R.
7117
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
JSU121960 Cleburne 18 Jun 1983 Bussey, Melanie G.
743
JSU
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
TROY000004398 Butler 31 Mar 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17353
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
ALNHS00002105 Lawrence 01 May 2013 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#1115
ALNHS
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UWAL0007466 Butler 31 Mar 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17353
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UNA00013423 Tuscaloosa 27 Apr 1985 Burckhalter, Robert
350
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
AUA000040111 Colbert 23 Apr 2014 Barger, T. Wayne
FH318
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
TROY000046861 Monroe 22 Apr 1975 Lelong, Michel G.
8368
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
AUA000030760 Monroe 16 Apr 2010 Hansen, Curtis J.
4601
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
AUA_ACC_34503 Clay 2 May 1970 Williams, Ann
112
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
TROY000034629 Butler 02 Dec 2011 Webb, Wayne K.
s.n.
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
ALNHS00005589 Tuscaloosa 09 May 2018 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#3762
ALNHS
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
USAM000005687 Monroe 22 Apr 1975 LeLong, Michel G.
8368
USAM
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UNA00066683 Butler 31 Mar 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17353
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UNA00013487 Lawrence 26 Apr 1977 Davenport, Lawrence J.
43
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
AUA_ACC_52273 Dale 15 Apr 1992 Diamond, Alvin R.
8120
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
UNA00013472 Bibb 26 Apr 1986 Burckhalter, Robert
444
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
AUA_ACC_5265 Butler 30 Apr 1967 Rankin, H.Taylor
213
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
ALNHS00002690 Colbert 23 Apr 2014 Barger, T. Wayne
FH-318
ALNHS
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
AUA000037873 Escambia 15 Mar 2012 Hansen, Curtis J.
5417
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
SAMF0004072 Walker 15 May 2005 Davenport, Lawrence J.
3177
SAMF
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
JSU122028 Winston 24 Apr 1976 Kral, Robert
57718
JSU
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
AUA000041939 Cullman 29 Apr 1922 Wolf, Wolfgang
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
JSU122025 Jackson 23 Jun 1986 Whetstone, R. David
15303
JSU
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
AUA_ACC_12793 Butler 30 Apr 1967 Barrick, William E.
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
TROY000032368 Butler 13 Apr 2011 Webb, Wayne K.
s.n.
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UWAL0051261 Elmore 29 Mar 1967 Kral, R.
29920
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UNA00013418 Clarke 05 Aug 1987 Burckhalter, Robert
982
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UWAL0005663 Wilcox 13 Apr 2011 Webb, Wayne K.
s.n.
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UNA00065140 Tuscaloosa 29 Apr 1982 Davenport, Lawrence J.
2240
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
SAMF0004068 Jefferson 11 Apr 1953 Cunningham, J.
s.n.
SAMF
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
AUA000041945 Cullman 26 May 1922 Wolf, Wolfgang
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
JSU122021 Cleburne 18 Sep 1983 Bussey, Melanie G.
905
JSU
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
TROY000018611 Cleburne 30 Apr 2004 Kral, Robert
95055
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
JSU122026 Jackson 21 Jun 1975 Durham, Steven D.
235
JSU
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
TROY000004399 Henry 02 Aug 2006 Miller, Ron
s.n.
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UWAL0010727 Butler 02 Dec 2011 Webb, Wayne K.
s.n.
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UNA00013413 Bibb 30 Apr 1985 Burckhalter, Robert
369
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UWAL0017050. Talladega 04 May 2014 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13907
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
TROY000018376 Henry 28 Apr 2000 MacDonald, John R.
13818
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UNA00013477 Tuscaloosa 28 Apr 1950 Crawford, Lloyd C.
1090
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UNA00056614 Monroe 15 Apr 1980 Haynes, Robert R.
7717
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
AUA_ACC_45487 Winston 17 Apr 1971 Widder, E.J.
049
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
UNA00061075 Marion 03 May 2003 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11819
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UWAL0053116 Morgan 09 Apr 2021 Thompson, Joey
1304
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UWAL0031457 Colbert 23 Apr 2011 England, J. Kevin
2814
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
JSU122027 Jefferson 9 Apr 1985 Barber, J. Patrick
1388
JSU
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UNA00013428 Bibb 26 Apr 1986 Burckhalter, Robert
442
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
TROY000032067 Butler 17 Apr 2011 Diamond, Alvin R.
21921
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
AUA_ACC_51279 Crenshaw 23 Apr 1990 Diamond, Alvin R.
6838
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
UNA00013497 Hale 05 Aug 1966 Williams, Norris H.
411
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
AUA_ACC_52681 Dale 30 Mar 1990 Diamond, Alvin R.
6772
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
TROY000018613 Marion 03 May 2003 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11819
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UWAL0005666 Butler 17 Apr 2011 Diamond, Alvin R.
21921
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
AUA_ACC_66208 Tuscaloosa 29 Apr 1982 Davenport, L.J.
2240
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
UNA00013482 Hale 19 Apr 1953 Chermock, Ralph L.
s.n.
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UWAL0007465 Walker 25 May 2008 Cobb, Richard
s.n.
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UWAL0007488 Madison 16 Apr 2004 Neal, Tamara M.
90
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
AUA_ACC_45484 Perry 2 May 1971 Carroll, Iii, A.B.
054
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
UNA00013655 Tuscaloosa 13 Apr 1985 Burckhalter, Robert
323
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UNA00057137 Henry 28 Apr 2000 MacDonald, John R.
13818
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
SAMF0004071 Tuscaloosa 29 Apr 1982 Davenport, Lawrence J.
2240
SAMF
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UWAL0053000 Shelby 13 Apr 2018 Davenport, L.J.
6621
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UNA00061208 Lawrence 13 Apr 2003 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11727
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
JSU122022 Colbert 24 Apr 1976 Kral, Robert
57724
JSU
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UWAL0030411 Bibb 01 May 1987 Kral, Robert
73845
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
JSU122023 Cullman 7 May 1978 Kral, Robert
61714
JSU
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
AUA_ACC_50242 Crenshaw 27 Sep 1989 Diamond, Alvin R.
6429
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
AUA_ACC_35847 Bibb 4 May 1979 Beckett, Scott W.
145
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
SAMF0004069 Lawrence 07 May 1957 Helms, Peggy
s.n.
SAMF
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UNA00060523 Clarke 08 May 1987 Burckhalter, Robert
982
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UNA00061713 Bibb 03 May 2003 Fishbein, Mark
4994
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UNA00073929 Hale 21 Apr 2013 Cobb, Richard
s.n.
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UNA00013492 Clarke 15 Apr 1980 Davenport, Lawrence J.
1772
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
AUA_ACC_43998 Conecuh 10 May 1986 Diamond, Alvin R.
2482
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
UNA00013467 Marion 29 Apr 1986 Smith, T.E.
1990
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UWAL0035250 Hale 21 Apr 2013 Cobb, Richard
s.n.
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UWAL0038327 Monroe 22 Apr 1975 LeLong, Michel G.
8368
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
TROY000018375 Dale 20 Mar 2000 Pennington, Tiffany
460
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
UWAL0010359 Blount 14 Apr 2012 Keener, Brian R.
7117
UWAL
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UNA00034398 Houston 17 Apr 1988 Burckhalter, Robert
1378
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
UNA00026017 Clarke 29 Sep 1995 Widder, Alicia D.
48
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
AUA_ACC_40025 Conecuh 21 Apr 1985 Diamond, Alvin R.
508
AUA
Rhododendron Alabamense Rehd.
UNA00013403 Clarke 28 Apr 1888 Mohr, Charles
s.n.
UNA
Rhododendron alabamense Rehd.
JSU122024 Cullman 17 Apr 1980 Whetstone, R. David
9553
JSU
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
TROY000018612 Colbert 17 Apr 2003 Kral, Robert
93843
TROY
Rhododendron alabamense Rehder
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