Rhododendron fortunei blooming, attracting Mrs. Gould's Sunbirds
2023-04-22 22:04:12
Recently, a large swath of rhododendron fortunei are blooming in the Quanyitang National Wetland Park. The park is located in the Zhangcunping Town area of Yichang at an altitude of more than 1,600 meters. The flowers are in full bloom, attracting Mrs. Gould's Sunbirds to come and drink their nectar.
What has attracted the timid birds to Quanyitang National Wetland Park every year is the rhododendron fortunei, which are 300 to 500 years old. Rhododendron fortunei, known as "the King of Rhododendron,” is a rare tree species unique to China. Like the Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, the rhododendron fortunei has very strict requirements on its growing environment.
In the Quanyitang Wetland Park, there are more than 1,000 mus (66.67 hectares) of rhododendron fortunei, all of which are wild plants without human intervention. This is of great importance when it comes to enriching the biodiversity of the Three Gorges Reservoir area.
To protect the rhododendron fortunei cluster in the Quanyitang National Wetland Park, local authorities have enhanced protective measures. Additionally, they are undertaking studies and research projects to explore new approaches to reproduce and grow this rare species.
