Description

Shrub, up to 3m; young shoots densely tomentose, with a few stalked glands. Leaves coriaceous, obianceolate, 9-16 x 2.5-4cm, 2.6-4.5 x as long as broad, apex acuminate to shortly cuspidate, glabrous above when mature, with a dense, felted, grey to fawn indumentum beneath; petioles c.3cm, tomentose. Inflorescence lax, 6-8-flowered; rhachis 10-15mm; pedicels 30-40mm, long-stipitate-glandular. Calyx 3-6(-15)mm, lobes ligulate, membranous, gland-ular-ciliate. Corolla funnel-campanulate, pale rose, 42-50mm. Ovary densely fulvous long-stipitate-glandular; style glabrous. Capsule c.15 x 7mm, cylindrical.

Distribution

China (E Sichuan, Hubei)

Altitude

Habitat

Thin woods

Nomenclatural History

R. youngae Fang, Contr. biol. Lab. Sci. Soc. China, Bot. ser. 12: 24 (1939). Type: China, Sichuan, Nan-Chuan-hsien, Kin shan, 2000m, 13 iv 1930, Chang 59 (holo. SZ; iso. E, Hb. Inst. Bot. Guangzhou). R. simiarum Hance subsp. youngae (Fang) Chamberlain, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 37:329(1979)

Notes

References

Chamberlain, D.F. (1982) A Revision of Rhododendron II. Subgenus Hymenanthes. Notes From the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(2):318