Description

Shrub or small tree, 1-6 m. Leaves oblanceolate to elliptic, (5.5—)7—15 x (2.2-)3-6.8 cm, (2-)2.3-3 x as long as broad, apex ± rounded, mucronate, base rounded, lower surface glabrous when mature except for punctulate hair bases; petioles 1.5-4 cm, glabrous. Inflorescence 7-10-flowered; rhachis 15-30 mm; pedicels 15-30 mm, stipitate-glandular. Calyx 1-3 mm, lobes minute, rounded, stipitate-glandular. Corolla 6-7-lobed, funnel-campanulate, usually sparsely glandular outside, often more densely so within, white to pale pink, with or without green or crimson flecks, 45-55(-62) mm. Stamens 14-16, filaments puberulent below. Ovary and style stipitate-glandular, glands whitish. Capsule 20-30 x c. 12 mm, usually slightly curved.

Distribution

NE Burma, China (Yunnan, Sichuan, W Guizhou)

Altitude

Habitat

Dry situations, in open forests and amongst scrub

Nomenclatural History

R. franchetianum Leveille, Bull. Soc. Agric. Sarthe 39: 45 (1903). Syntypes: China, Yunnan, environs de Yunnan-sen, 11 xi 1896, Bodinier (E) & 28 iii 1897, Ducloux (E). R. spooneri Hemsley & Wilson, Kew Bull. 1910: 110 (1910). Syntypes: China, W Sichuan, nr Tatsien-lu, 2650-3650 m, vi 1904, Wilson 3975 (A); NW Yunnan, Tsekou, Monbeig (K). R. giraudissii Leveille, Feddes Repert. 18: 340 (1914). Type: China, E Yunnan, mont de Siao-ou-long, 2700 m, vi 1913, Maire (holo. E)

Notes

References

Chamberlain, D.F. (1982) A Revision of Rhododendron II. Subgenus Hymenanthes. Notes From the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(2):230