Keyed Out #077 — Rhododendron quinquefolium

Question 1

Each blossom carries twice as many {stamens} as {corolla} lobes, and every {anther} sheds its {pollen} through a small pore at the tip instead of splitting down the side.

Accepted Answer

heath family

Question 2

Below ground it runs a shallow mat of threads finer than sewing cotton, without true root hairs and stuffed with fungal partners inside the outer cells, and the leaves yellow between the veins the moment lime enters the soil.

Accepted Answer

Ericaceae

Question 3

The flowers are wide-open funnels about 1 to 1.5 inches (3 to 4 cm) across, flaring straight out of an abruptly narrowed short tube and carried a few together from a stout terminal bud, not small nodding urns crowded along a drooping stalk.

Accepted Answer

Rhododendron

Question 4

Last season leaves behind dry, woody, upright pods that split lengthwise into five {valves} and shed dust-fine seed in the hundreds, rather than any soft berry-like fruit.

Accepted Answer

Rhododendron

Question 5

The funnels open chalk white and are freckled green inside the upper lobes, with green anthers to match, instead of the rose to purple-pink worn by its nearest kin.

Accepted Answer

Rhododendron quinquefolium

Question 6

The five leaves in each terminal {whorl} are small and diamond-shaped, tapering to a wedge where they meet the stalk and reaching only about 2.3 inches (5.8 cm) at the very most, not broad rounded blades twice that length.

Accepted Answer

Rhododendron quinquefolium