Bot. Mag. 77: t. 4609 (1851). Type: the plate cited.
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Shrub or small tree to 8 m high, young branches densely covered with glandular bristly hairs. Leafblade elliptic or obovate 70-150 x 25-50 mm, base cuneate, apex acuminate, chartaceous, upper surface sparsely short setose, increasing towards the margin, lower surface loosely bristly, especially on the mid-rib and principal veins, often also pubescent, margin ciliate; petiole c. 10-12 mm, with dense spreading bristles. Inflorescence buds lateral, clustered at the ends of leafy shoots, about 5-flowercd; bud scales viscid; pedicels c. 18-20 mm long, densely covered in coarse spreading glandular hairs. Calyx of 5 variable lobes, up to 12 mm long, narrow, densely ciliate. Corolla at first pink becoming white with yellow markings on upper lobe, glabrous, tube c. 12-15 mm, lobes c.40-45 x 25-30 mm. Stamens 10, filaments hairy on the lower part, Ovary cylindric, c.7mm long, densely bristly; style glabrous. Capsule narrowly cylindric, coarsely setose, c.35-40 mm long.
China (Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejang, Hunan, Jiangxi), Hongkong.
Philipson, W.R. & Philipson, M.N. (1986) A Revision of Rhododendron III. Subgenera Azaleastrum, Mumeazalea, Candidastrum and Therorhodion. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 44(1):9