Common Name:- Rhododendron, Snow rose etc

Family:- Ericaceae 

Vernacular Name:- Tongrong Apong(Nyishi)

description 

          Rhododendron ferrugineum is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 1m tall and produces clusters of pinkish-red, bell-shaped flowers throughout the summer. The undersides of the leaves are covered in rust-brown spots, which give the species its scientific name. It can be widely seen over the high altitude of Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh has the highest number of Rhododendron species among all the states of North East. Highest number of the species can be seen at Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. 

#medicinal_value 

          Despite serious safety concerns, rusty-leaved rhododendron is used in combination with other herbs for painful conditions such as gout, muscle and joint pain (rheumatism), nerve pain (neuralgia), sciatica, face pain (trigeminal neuralgia), muscle pain, migraine, headaches, and rib pain.

          Other uses included treatment of extreme tension of the muscles or arteries (hypertonia), joint disease, hardening of muscles, weak connective tissue, sensitivity to weather change, gallstones, kidney stones, high blood pressure, and aging disorders.

#Poisonous_fact 

          Rusty-leaved rhododendron is UNSAFE. The entire plant is considered poisonous. Taking rusty-leaved rhododendron can cause weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, slow heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, and blurred vision. Symptoms of poisoning include sweating, impaired consciousness, chills, fainting, shock, seizure, cardiac and respiratory arrest, severe stupor, and possibly death.

          It is also poisonous for cattle, cats and dogs, even if just a few leaves are eaten. 

Pic- Taken from Jarjum Ete Ma'am's page

Reference