Rhododendron Yearbook 6: 70 (1951)
Verified by:
Dwarf shrub, 0.1 -lm; young shoots stipitate-glandular or sparsely tomentose, perulae ± deciduous or persistent. Leaves broadly obovate to elliptic, (2-)4-6 x (1.3-)1.8-3.2cm, 1.5-2.1 x as long as broad, apex rounded or retuse, base rounded to broadly cuneate, shortly decurrent, upper surface glabrous, lower surface glabrous or with a sparse whitish adpressed indumentum, epapillate; petioles 0.5-lcm, tomentose and/or stipitate-glandular. Inflorescence (1 -)2-5-flowered; rhachis c.5mm; pedicels 10-20mm, sparsely stipitate-glandular, sometimes also villous-tomentose. Calyx l-7(— 15)mm, minute or with well-developed, sometimes coloured, glandular-ciliate lobes. Corolla fleshy, campanulate, pink to deep crimson, usually unmarked, 25—45mm. Ovary densely to very sparsely rufous-tomentose with varying proportions of stipitate glands. Capsule c. 15 x 4mm. ** * Rhododendron chamaethomsonii * var. * chamaedoron * ** Corolla carmine to crimson; calyx lobes to 7(- 15)mm; ovary sparsely hairy, sometimes glandular. Leaves with a thin discontinuous indumentum when mature; petioles and young shoots eglandular. ** * Rhododendron chamaethomsonii * var. * chamaethauma * ** Corolla pale to deep pink; calyx minute, 1mm or less; ovary densely hairy. ** * Rhododendron chamaethomsonii * var. * chamaethomsonii * ** Corolla carmine to crimson; calyx lobes to 7(- 15)mm; ovary sparsely hairy, sometimes glandular. Leaves glabrous; petioles and young shoots glandular.
Amongst boulders, damp rocky slopes
Chamberlain, D.F. (1982) A Revision of Rhododendron II. Subgenus Hymenanthes. Notes From the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(2):406