りゅうきゅうつつじ (琉球躑躅) [Index] [Back] 「きしつつじ（岸躑躅）」と「もちつつじ（餅躑躅）」との雑種、または「きしつつじ」の変異の１型と考えられています。大輪の白い花を咲かせる「つつじ」の代表種であり、花つきがよいため江戸時代から栽培され、広く庭木として使われています。枝は分枝して株立ち状になり、高さは１〜２メートルになります。葉は大きく、長さ３〜４センチほどの楕円形です。４月下旬から５月ごろ、直径５〜６センチになる漏斗状の白色の花を、枝先に２〜３輪ずつ咲かせます。花弁の先端は５個に裂け、１０本の雄しべと花柄に密生する褐色の毛が目立ちます。別名で「しろりゅうきゅう（白琉球）」とも呼ばれます。  ツツジ科ツツジ属の半落葉低木で、学名は Rhododendron x mucronatum。英名はありません。  "Ryukyu-tsutsuji" (Rhododendron x mucronatum) belongs to Eriaceae (the Azalea family). It is a small semi-deciduous tree that is thought to be a hybrid between the "Kishi-tsutsuji" (Rhododendron ripense) and the "Mochi-tsutsuji" (Rhododendron macrosepalum), or a mutation of the "Kishi-tsutsuji". It is a representative species of azalea with large white flowers and has been cultivated since the Edo period (1603-1868) and widely used as a garden tree because of its good flowering habit. The branches are branched into a bushy shape and grow 1-2 m tall. From late April to May, it produces 2 to 3 funnel-shaped white flowers, 5 to 6 cm in diameter, at the tips of its branches. The tips of the petals are split into five lobes, and the ten stamens and the dense brown hairs on the stalk are conspicuous. It is also known as "Shiro-ryukyu".  福島県須賀川市「大桑原つつじ園」にて、2023年05月04日。  Shu Suehiro shu@botanic.jp