Rust-leaved alpine rose

Rust-leaved alpine rose
Rust-leaved alpine rose ( Rhododendron ferrugineum ) near Arolla in the canton of Valais
Systematics
Order : Heather-like (Ericales) Family : Heather family (Ericaceae) Subfamily : Rhododendroideae Tribe : Rhododendreae Genre : Rhododendrons ( Rhododendron ) Type : Rust-leaved alpine rose
Scientific name
Rhododendron ferrugineum
L.

The alpenrose ( Rhododendron ferrugineum ), also Rostrote Alpenrose or rust Red Almrausch called, is a plant from the genus of Rhododendron ( Rhododendron ) within the family of the Ericaceae (Ericaceae). In the Alps will - like the hairy alpenrose - even Almrose called. It is common in the European mountains.

Description and ecology

Branches with leaves and terminal inflorescences with stalked flowers

Young capsule fruits

Vegetative characteristics

The rust-leaved alpine rose grows as a heavily branched, evergreen shrub and reaches heights of 30 to 130 (20 to 100) centimeters. The strong branches and twigs are richly branched. The bark of young twigs is red-brown, while older twigs and branches have gray bark . Trunks with a diameter of 1 to 2 centimeters were found to be almost 100 years old.

The alternate arranged leaves occur at the ends of branches on frequently. The simple, leathery leaf blade is 1 to 4 centimeters long and up to 1 centimeter wide, mostly lanceolate to narrow-elliptical with a pointed to prickly-pointed upper end. The leaf margin is more or less rolled down and finely serrated; he is not eyelashed. The upper side of the leaf is glossy dark green and bare. In young leaves, the underside of the leaves is yellowish, in old age it is rust-brown due to flaky hairs; hence the German species names such as "Rostblättrige Alpenrose" or "Rostrote Alpenrose". The leaves only stay on the bush for about two years.

Generative characteristics

illustration

The flowering period extends from May to July. The 5 to 8 millimeter long stalked flowers are clustered in clustered , terminal, umbelliferous inflorescences . The hermaphrodite flowers are five-fold with a double flower envelope . The five deep pink to strong red petals are broadly fused together. The corolla, which is up to 2 centimeters long and just as wide, is hairy on the inside. The ten stamens do not protrude above the corolla and are hairy at the base.

The brownish, upward-pointing capsule fruits ripening from August onwards are woody; they tear open from above. Only with strong air movements can the many extremely light seeds contained in them be spread by the wind - they are winter dwellers , insofar as they are similar to Germer and Yellow Gentian . The number of chromosomes is 2n = 26.

Occurrence

Rust-leaved alpine rose near Belle Plagne (2050 m) on Mont St. Jacques (2407 m)

Rust-leaved alpine rose on the Villanderer Alm, South Tyrol

The rust-leaved alpine rose is widespread in the Alps , the Pyrenees , the Jura , the Apennines , the Carpathians and on the Balkan Peninsula . It occurs frequently in the Alps in the silicate central Alps , in the Limestone Alps it is to be found scattered.

Fresh, mostly acidic coniferous forests, light shrubbery, dwarf shrub heath and crooked wood are preferred as locations . The rust-leaved alpine rose avoids chalky subsoil, where the vicarious species Rhododendron hirsutum would occur. The rust-leaved alpine rose thrives at altitudes of 500 and up to 2800 meters. In the Allgäu Alps, it rises in the Tyrolean part on the Rothornspitze up to an altitude of 2200 meters. Together with the dwarf juniper ( Juniperus communis var. Saxatilis ) it is an important raw soil pioneer . It is a characteristic species cembrae of Vaccinio-Rhododendretum ferruginei or the Vaccinio-Pinetum. In the foothills of the Alps, the species is also found in Vaccinio uliginosi-Pineteum rotundatae. In winter, the rust-leaved alpine rose needs a protective blanket of snow, otherwise it would freeze to death.

Outside of its natural range, the rust-leaved alpine rose is used in the temperate areas in gardens as ornamental plants. Like most rhododendrons , it requires acidic soil conditions .

Toxicity

Illustration from Atlas of Alpine Flora

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Like many other rhododendron species, alpine rose is highly poisonous due to andromedotoxin (acetylandromedol), which belongs to the diterpenes . Ruminants who eat plants due to a lack of winter food choices are particularly at risk . The alpine rose is also poisonous for humans, whereby all parts of the plant (flowers, nectar, leaves, fruits, ...) contain the toxin acetylandromedol. Symptoms are increased salivation, nausea, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In addition, severe cardiac arrhythmias, breathing disorders and seizures can occur at higher doses, which can lead to death due to cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest. Even a leaf or a flower can cause symptoms of poisoning.

First aid measures are an abundant supply of fluids and the consultation of a doctor to administer medical charcoal ( activated charcoal ) or to carry out a poison removal.

Naming

Mountain farmers also call this type of plant "Rostzetten" or "Echte Alpenrose". The “real alpine rose” can rather be described as the alpine rose or alpine dog rose or mountain rose ( Rosa pendulina ), which really belongs to the rose genus.

literature

• Xaver Finkenzeller, Jürke Grau: Alpine flowers. Recognize and determine (=  Steinbach's natural guide ). Mosaik, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-576-11482-3 .
• Manfred A. Fischer, Wolfgang Adler, Karl Oswald: Excursion flora for Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol . 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. State of Upper Austria, Biology Center of the Upper Austrian State Museums, Linz 2005, ISBN 3-85474-140-5 .
• Ehrentraud Bayer, Karl Peter Buttler, Xaver Finkenzeller, Jürke Grau: Plants of the Mediterranean (=  Steinbach's natural guide . Volume 17 ). Mosaik, Munich 1987, ISBN 3-570-01347-2 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g} Rhododendron ferrugineum L., rust-leaved alpine rose. In: FloraWeb.de.
2. ↑ ^{a b c} Manuel Werner: Which alpine flower is that? Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart, 2011, ISBN 978-3-440-12576-2 , p. 24.
3. ↑ ^{a b c} Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp.  730 .
4. ↑ Erhard Dörr, Wolfgang Lippert : Flora of the Allgäu and its surroundings. Volume 2, IHW, Eching 2004, ISBN 3-930167-61-1 , p. 301.
5. ↑ Rhododendron, Rosenbaum (Rhododendron ssp.). In: Information Center against Poisoning NRW Retrieved on January 14, 2016.

Web links

Commons : Rostblättrige Alpenrose ( Rhododendron ferrugineum )  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

• Rust-leaved alpine rose . In: BiolFlor, the database of biological-ecological characteristics of the flora of Germany.
• Rhododendron ferrugineum L. In: Info Flora , the national data and information center for Swiss flora . Retrieved January 13, 2016.
• Rhododendron ferrugineum inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: S. Khela, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
• Thomas Meyer: Alpenrose data sheet with identification key and photos at Flora-de: Flora von Deutschland (old name of the website: Flowers in Swabia ).
• Michael Hassler, Bernd Schmitt: Flora of Germany - A picture database , version 2.96.
• Gerhard Nitter: data sheet with photos.
• Rust-leaved alpine rose at giftpflanze.com .

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !