Rhodo. Sikkim Himalaya t. 24 (1849)
Verified by:
Shrub to 2 m. Young growth loriform-setose, the older branches with the bases of the setae remaining. Leaves elliptic to narrowly elliptic, dark green and somewhat rugose above, paler green or brownish beneath, acute or obtuse at the apex, (44-)55-70(-90) x (21-)24-34 mm, the upper surface loriform-setose to some extent, particularly along the lower part of the midrib, the lower surface with scattered, rather unequal scales. Inflorescence 2-5-flowered, pedicels lepidote and rather densely loriform-setose. Calyx conspicuous, somewhat unequally 5-lobed, the lobes usually herbaceous, oblong-ovate, obtuse, lepidote near the base, loriform-ciliate, the largest 6-9 mm. Corolla white or white flushed pink, campanulate to funnel-campanulate, (32-)36-45 mm, the tube (19-)21-29 mm, glabrous and elepidote outside. Stamens 10, filaments pubescent towards the base. Ovary lepidote, style impressed, glabrous and elepidote. Capsule oblong-globose, c. 10-16 mm, lepidote.
Nepal, India (Sikkim), Bhutan, China (S Xizang)
Hillsides, rocky places, forests
Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):41