Description

Prostrate, matted or erect intricate shrub, 0.05-1-5 m. Young growth densely lepidote, not loriform-setose, or if so the setae quickly deciduous. Leaves suborbicular to oblong-ovate, rarely oblong-obovate, 11-33 x (2-)4-20 mm, upper surface matt with persistent, dried-out scales, rarely elepidote and somewhat shining, margins sparsely loriform-ciliate, lower surface with dense, overlapping scales arranged in 3-4 tiers, those of the outermost tier with long stalks and cup-shaped discs. Inflorescence 1 -5-flowered, pedicels lepidote with usually many long-stalked scales with cup-shaped discs. Calyx with frequently unequal, oblong to ovate lobes, rounded at the apex, variably lepidote and filiform-acicular pubescent on the surface, margins loriform-setose, inner surface puberulent. Corolla magenta, more rarely pink or purple, often with darker spots on the upper lobes, 18-28 mm, tube 7-12(-14) mm, pilose outside, occasionally somewhat lepidote also. Stamens 10. Ovary lepidote, glabrous. Capsule 6-9 mm, lepidote. ** * Rhododendron calostrotum * var. * calostrotum * ** Leaves ± obtuse, lepidote above, (7-)9-20 mm broad; decumbent or erect shrubs. Scales on the undersurface clearly borne in 3-4 tiers; leaves 12-22 mm long. Flowers 1-2 in each inflorescence; pedicels 16-27 mm ** * Rhododendron calostrotum * var. * keleticum * ** Leaves ± acute, elepidote above, 2-7(-9) mm broad; prostrate shrublet ** * Rhododendron calostrotum * var. * riparioides * ** Leaves ± obtuse, lepidote above, (7-)9-20 mm broad; decumbent or erect shrubs. Scales on leaf undersurface ± flat, the tiers indistinct; leaves 22-33 mm long. ** * Rhododendron calostrotum * var. * riparium * ** Leaves ± obtuse, lepidote above, (7-)9-20 mm broad; decumbent or erect shrubs. Scales on the undersurface clearly borne in 3-4 tiers; leaves 12-22 mm long. Flowers 2-5 in each inflorescence; pedicels 10(-15) mm

Distribution

Altitude

Habitat

Nomenclatural History

Notes

References

Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):115