Rhododendron carolinianum Rehder. Carolina Rhododendron, Punctatum. Phen: Late Apr-May; Sep-Oct. Hab: Rocky summits, heath balds, high elevation forests, moist slopes. Dist: A Southern Appalachian endemic: w. NC, e. TN, ne. GA, and nw. SC, from the Linville Gorge area (and rarely as far north as Alleghany County, NC) south and west to the Great Smoky Mountains; its precise southern limit uncertain.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Syn: = K1, K3, K4, S, Albach & Bauer (2021), Davidian (1982); < Rhododendron minus – RAB, Tn, W; < Rhododendron minus var. minus – FNA8, Cullen (1980), Duncan & Pullen (1962), Luteyn et al (1996)
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