Collecting in Arklahoma

My recent surveys on the Arkansas/Oklahoma border located a large, extensive Rhododendron viscosum population.  Located at the base of a large ridge, Rich Mountain, the population is comprised of many large individuals upwards of 10 feet in height.  The population occurs along a stream on the Arkansas side of the state line, is not divided into subpopulations, and  occurs in isolation with no other populations nearby.  Many individuals had pink flowers, something which I have not seen before.

R.viscosum from the population on the Arkansas/Oklahoma state line, showing characteristic pink flowers.

Summit of Rich Mountain.  The population was located at the base of this ridge.  Ridgetop flora were also unique, comprised of species that had been severely stunted by wind and ice.

While the species is documented further west in Oklahoma, I had no luck in locating populations.  The terrain here is much lower, hotter and drier.  Many of the forest lands in that part are heavily logged, and it seems that recent clearcutting events took altered a lot of prime habitat.  There was no shortage of prime habitat for snakes, and I could see and hear many scurry along through the rocky sand as I walked by.  I couldn't identify any; they were too fast.

McCurtain County, OK

I am currently in Texas, and will be collecting here this week.