>A new genus of tree is always good news, makes you wonder what else is still out thereUnder current conditions dozens of species are being obliterated every day, some without ever having been examined and classified by scientists.

I don't know of anyone that is raising epiphytic rhododendrons out of their native habitat as epiphytes. They are epiphytes at very high elevations in the himalayan mountains. Here are pictures of the new rhododendron found in New Guinea: This photo released by Conservation International shows what their scientists suspect to be a new species of Rhododendron (Rhododendron macgregoriae) seen on the Conservation International Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) expedition to the Foya Mountains of Papua province, Indonesia's easternmost Ppua province in December 2005. Scientists discovered a 'Lost World' in an isolated Indonesian jungle, identifying dozens of new species of frogs, butterflies and plants _ as well as large mammals hunted to near extinction elsewhere, members of the expedition said Tuesday. "Giant White" Rhododendron, a species yet to be described, possibly the largest of any rhododendron species in the world, seen on the Conservation International Rapid Assessment Program expedition to the Foja Mountains in Papua, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea.(Wayne Takeuchi) Wayne Takeuchi is a Botanist with PNG Forest Research Insitute, P.O. Box 314, Lae, Morobe, PNG. He also is affiliated with Harvard University. Here is a link that might be useful: For more info

Here is the full tree, I think the stems are probably 2 years old maybe, but I think it might have been cut back many a few times in the past because it has multiple stems coming out of the ground. So it maybe 5 or more years old. If you compare it to the many other tulip tree sedlings just feet way from this one (all in the same circumstances) then you can see the big difference. All the other seedlings in the same circumstances (all have been cut back as well) have normal seedling leaves. Only this one has the weird narrow leaves. Again, I've never seen leaves like this on any tulip tree seedling in my life. From far back the leaves almost remind me of a Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata) :-)

Thank you for that great story Jeff. I just purchased this one in spring. Very slow grower for me. Said it was winter hardy in my zone 6. I am going to cut it down to the ground come fall since the top dies down anyway and bring in and root up and pot. Making new plants for next year to put outside. Putting a 4 inch mulch layer on the base plant in the yard. Michigan Bulb Co. at $12.99 plus shipping. Would have loved to purchased at a nursery but it's too new for any around here to have. For a tiny plant, it is expensive.