The team with Tribhuwan University (Nepal) Professor Dr Minraj Dhakal, Michel Istrizer of the UoWDC and Ram Chandra Adhikari of Hattisar Campus started the collection and study of rhododendrons. [break]
The team will collect buds, leaves and flowers and will take them to US lab for DNA test and identify the species and relations, said Dr Dhakal.
Dr Dhakal said one can find the species by the leaves but no study and identification has been made so far.
Rhododendron leaves are grey, red, white and dusty, but all have not been identified and this attempt is made, he said.
The team will collect rhododendrons from 1200 meters to 4100 meters altitude. They have already collected samples from Pathibhara area of Taplejung, Milke Jaljale of Tehrathum, Langtang and Shivapuri Area of Kathmandu.
US student Michel said as Nepal has multiple species and there have been less studies, they made Nepal an area of study. She said there are no such varieties in USA.
It will take at least two years for the full details of studies to come but we can say about the preliminary relation after reaching it to lab, she said.
Studies have so far found 32 species in Nepal. Rhododendrons are found in eastern part of Nepal including Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Bhojpur and other districts.
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