Description

Shrub, 1 -2.5m; young shoots shortly stipitate-glandular, also with a detersile dendroid indumentum. Leaves elliptic to ovate, 6—10 x (2.5-)3.2—4cm, 1.5-2.5(-3) x as long as broad, apex rounded, apiculate, base rounded, upper surface glabrous except for a thin veil of indumentum over the midrib, lower surface with a few stipitate glands and a thin detersile indumentum that is sometimes restricted to near the midrib at the base; petioles l-2cm, glandular and with a sparse indumentum. Inflorescence lax, c.5-flowered; rhachis c.5mm; pedicels 15-28(-35)mm, shortly stipitate-glandular. Calyx 2-3mm, glandular. Corolla funnel-campanulate, white flushed rose, with a few crimson markings, c.35mm. Ovary densely glandular, also with a varying proportion of rufous dendroid hairs; style glabrous. Capsule c.15 x 4mm, curved. ** * Rhododendron calvescens * var. * calvescens * ** Leaves 3.2-4cm wide, 1.5-2.5 X as long as broad; pedicels 15-20mm ** * Rhododendron calvescens * var. * duseimatum * ** Leaves 2.5-3.2cm wide, c.3 x as long as broad; pedicels 20-28(—35) mm

Distribution

China (SE Xizang, NW Yunnan)

Altitude

Habitat

Conifer forests, scrub, open rocky places

Nomenclatural History

Notes

References

Chamberlain, D.F. (1982) A Revision of Rhododendron II. Subgenus Hymenanthes. Notes From the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(2):275