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Family Ericaceae
Lopong
Rhododendron vidalii Rolfe
VIDAL'S RHODODENDRON

Scientific names Common names
Rhododendron vidalii Rolfe Ayalea (Ifugao)
Rhododendron verticillatum Vidal Kotto (Bontoc)
Accepted infraspecifics (2) Lofong (Bon.)
Rhododendron vidalii subsp. brachystemon Argent Lopong (Bon.)
Rhododendron vidalii subsp. vidalii Tingei (Bon.)
  Vidal's rhododendron (Engl.)
Rhododendron vidalii Rolfe is an accepted species. KEW: Plants of the World Online




Gen info
• Etymology: Species epithet vidalii honors the Spanish botanist Sebastian Vidal y Soler.
• The species is threatened by habitat destruction and indiscriminate gathering for ornamental use.

Botany
• Lopong is a low, branching shrub 1 to 2 meters high. Leaves are oblong or obovate-oblong, 25 to 45 millimeters long, 10 to 20 millimeters wide, rounded at the tip, and pointed at the base, crowded in pseudo-whorls. Flowers are showy, white, about 3 centimeters long, and borne usually in clusters of two or three. Fruit is hairy, 1.5 to 2 centimeters long. Seeds are slightly more than 1 millimet4r in length, and bear appendages as long as themselves.

 Shrub to small tree, to 3 m tall. Leaves crowded in pseudo whorls, ovate, with acute to rounded apex and tapering base, dark or pale green, to 4 cm long and to 2 cm wide. Flowers funnel-shaped, white, pedicelled, slightly scented. Stamens excerted, Fruit sub-cylindric, often curved. (5)

Distribution
- Endemic to the Philippines.
- Mostly in mossy forests on exposed ridges; also terrestrial on banks in rather barren places or grassland, epiphytic on large, moss covered trees or terrestrial on shrubby mountain side or exposed ridges; 1000-1200 m.
- Abra, Bataan, Batangas, Benguet, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Isabela, Laguna, Mountain Province, Quezon, Zambales in Luzon; Mindoro.

Properties
- Leaves frequently have small nodules growing on them which children squash like lice; hence, kotto.

Uses

Folkloric
Used as a cure for itches.

Studies
No studies found.

Availability
Wild-crafted.


Updated January 2024 / March 2018 / July 2015

PHOTOS / ILLUSTRATIONS
IMAGE SOURCE: Ericaceae : Rhododendron vidalii subsp. vidalii / Inflorescence / det. George Argent / Copyright © 2013 by Ravan Schneider (contact: pieter.pelser@canterbury.ac.nz) [ref. DOL64539] / Non-Commercial Use / click on link or image to go to source page / Phytoimages.siu.edu
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Ericaceae : Rhododendron vidalii subsp. vidalii flower / det. George Argent / Copyright © 2013 by Ravan Schneider (contact: pieter.pelser@canterbury.ac.nz) [ref. DOL64541] / Non-Commercial Use / click on image or link to go to source page / Phytoimages.siu.edu

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Rhododendron vidalii /
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
(2)
Rhododendrom vidalii / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(3)
Some comments on Bontoc ethnobotany / Lawrence A Reid, Domingo Madulid / Philippine Journal of Linguistics
(4)
Rhododendron vidalii Rolfe / Edited by Pieter B Pelser, 2022 / Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(5)
Rhododendron vidalii / Domingo A Madulid: Philippine Native Plants / Philstar Global

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)

                                                            List of Understudied Philippine Medicinal Plants
                                          New plant names needed
The compilation now numbers over 1,300 medicinal plants. While I believe there are hundreds more that can be added to the collection, they are becoming more difficult to find. If you have a plant to suggest for inclusion, native or introduced, please email the info: scientific name (most helpful), local plant name (if known), any known folkloric medicinal use, and, if possible, a photo. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

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