The genus name Rhododendron is derived from the Greek rhodon, rose and dendron, tree.
Rhododendron is a member of the Ericaceae family.
Rhododendron simsii is native to Southeast Asia and southern China. R. obtusum is native to Japan.
Nasu-kogen Highlands Tochigi
Bamboo belongs to the grass family but with some qualities that sets it apart. The floral structure of bamboos is basically that of the grass family, but the bamboos typically have three lodicules (scales at the base of an ovary), six stamens, and three stigmas, the germination areas of the pistil, rather than the two lodicules, three stamens, and two stigmas typical of most grasses. Although many bamboos flower annually, others flower only at intervals of 10 to 100 years. All members of a particular species flower at the same time, and die shortly after flowering and setting their seed.
Jasminum Sambac
It was said that a Chinese emperor of the Sung dynasty, 960-1279 AD, had Jasmine in his palace grounds so he could enjoy its fragrance. In the 1400s, Jasmine was planted for kings of Afghanistan, Nepal and Persia.
Varieties of Jasmine used in perfume, found their way to places across the seas – beginning from areas along the Arabian Sea, such as Persia and India then crossing the Red Sea into Egypt. They reached into the territory around the Aegean Sea into Turkey and Greece. And, they spread to areas along the Mediterranean Sea from Africa through Egypt, Algeria and Morocco – reaching Western Europe through Spain by Moors in 1600, and France and Italy.
