47. Rhododendron thomsonii J.D. Hooker ERICACEAE

Dr. Thomson’s Rhododendron

A native of the eastern Himalaya, this is one of the many species of rhododendron discovered by Joseph Hooker in Sikkim. It was named by him after ‘Dr Thomas Thomson … son of the learned Professor of Chemistry of Glasgow University, my earliest friend and companion during my College life, and now my valued travelling companion in Eastern Himalaya’. Thomson (1817–1878) went on to become Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic Garden and, with Hooker, was joint-author of the Flora Indica of which only one volume was published.

Hand coloured lithograph of Rhododendron thomsonii by W.H. Fitch, after watercolour by J.D. Hooker, from Hooker’s The Rhododendrons of Sikkim-Himalaya (1849)

     

    RBGE Living Collections Accession Factsheet
    Accession Number:19370196
    Scientific Name:Rhododendron thomsonii Hook.f. ssp. thomsonii
    Family:Ericaceae
    Genus:Rhododendron
    Epithet:thomsonii
    Collector:Ludlow, Francis & Sherriff, George
    Year:1936
    Origin:Outer China incl. Tibet:Xizang (Tibet) Aut. Reg.:Nyingsang La
    Elevation:3,800m
    Plant:19370196A
    Location:/Living Collections/Unplaced
    Plant:19370196C
    Location:/Living Collections/Inverleith/F06/ZZZO30
    Plant:19370196E
    Location:/Living Collections/Unplaced
    Plant:19370196G
    Location:/Living Collections/Unplaced
    Plant:19370196F
    Location:/Living Collections/Inverleith/W02/E/F015
    Plant:19370196B
    Location:/Living Collections/Inverleith/W02/W/R050
    Plant:19370196D
    Location:/Living Collections/Unplaced
    04164.jpg outdoor photograph of plant Caption by: ...
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     Location: 55.965464502,-3.210985034
     Location: 55.964334868,-3.20650415
     Location: 55.964658997,-3.206927387