Rare ‘loderi’ rhododendron found in forests of Myagdi

MYAGDI: The rare ‘loderi’ variety of rhododendron has been found growing n the forests at Narchyang in Annapurna rural municipality-4 of northern Myagdi.
Rural municipality, ward number 4 chairman Chandra Prasad Phagami said that this variety of rhododendron, considered very rare in the world, has been found in the forests at Jagarghari, Khaniban and Humkala along the way leading to the Nilgiri-Annapurna mountain base camp.
According to him, the loderi variety of rhododendron was discovered by the environment team of the Mistri Khola Hydropower Project while carrying out a research. Environment scientists Kul Prasad Limbu and Kamal Maden confirmed that it was the loderi variety of rhododendron.
It is found more in the Humkala forest, said Shiva Purja of the Project who was involved in the project’s environment team. Purja said the loderi species of rhododendron grows at an altitude above 4,000 metres from the sea level.
According to him, this variety of rhododendron was not found even in the forests in the alpine region of Mustang and Manang, but has been found in the forest at Narchyang which is at lower altitude than the alpine regions of Mustang and Manang. This has baffled even the environment scientists, he added.
The loderi variety rhododendron plant is only around five centimeters tall. The flower is a mixture of yellow and pink and is very small in size.
Ward chair Phagami said his office would initiate for the conservation of this rare species of rhododendron.