Reinwardtia 1960. 5: 68.
WFO ID: wfo-0000403008
IPNI ID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:332195-1
Verified by:
Erect shrub. Twigs slender, rounded, tips scaly; internodes 2–11cm. Leaves 4–6 together in tight pseudowhorls, not aromatic. Blade 30–60 x 30–40mm, ovate-elliptic or mostly elliptic; apex shortly obtusely acuminate, sometimes apiculate with a small gland; margin entire, slightly revolute; base sub-truncate, rounded or cordate, sub-densely scaly above but quickly glabrescent, densely and persistently scaly beneath. Scales nearly round, wavy at the margin, very distinctly impressed, the scale pits becoming blackish with age. Mid-vein impressed above, strongly prominent beneath; lateral veins 3–4 per side, very slightly impressed above in fully mature leaves, somewhat prominent in younger ones, mostly not easily visible, especially beneath, reticulation obscure. Petiole 1.5–3 x 1–1.5mm, scaly, grooved above. Bracts to 10 x 7mm; outer bracts ovate, acute; inner ones obovate, scaly above along the middle line. Bracteoles c.6 x 1mm, linear. Pedicels 5–8mm, slender, densely reddish-brown scaly. Calyx c.2.5mm in diameter, disc-like, scaly outside, glabrous inside, the margin undulate and shortly 5-lobed, spreading or reflexed at flowering. Corolla 32 x 14mm, (dry), white, trumpet-shaped; tube 25–30 x 2.5–3 x 2.5–3mm, nearly straight, 5-pouched at the base, very densely scaly outside, glabrous inside; lobes 10–12 x 8–9mm, spreading horizontally, obovate-elliptic, sparsely scaly outside, glabrous inside. Stamens unequal, not or slightly exserted from the throat; filaments filiform, laxly hairy; anthers 2–2.5mm, broadly oblong. Disc low, densely white-hairy. Ovary c.4 x 2mm, cylindrical-conical, densely and exclusively scaly, abruptly narrowed to the style, slightly 5-ribbed; style c.23mm, scaly and shortly patently hairy in the proximal 1⁄3, gradually becoming glabrous distally; stigma shortly obconical, minutely crenulate.
Indonesia, New Guinea (W), Wissel Lakes, 2400m, and on the southern side of Mt Jaya (Carstensz).
In open montane shrubberies especially in disturbed areas at roadsides.
Argent, G. (2006) Rhododendrons of subgenus Vireya. RHS:London. Page:66