Description

Small shrub to 1 m. Young growth sparsely lepidote, filiform-acicular pubescent and sparsely loriform-setose. Leaves narrowly obovate to obovate-orbicular, 13-30 x 7-14 mm, ± flat, glabrous above, sparsely lepidote beneath with well-separated, golden scales, the margins ciliate with long straight loriform hairs. Inflorescence many-flowered, the rachis short or reaching 10 mm. Pedicels sparsely lepidote and filiform-acicular puberulent. Calyx with narrowly triangular lobes, 2-4 mm, lepidote and fringed with loriform setae. Corolla pink, sparsely lepidote and pubescent outside, 12-18 mm, tube 6-10 mm. Stamens 10, filaments pubescent towards the base. Ovary lepidote, style as long as the ovary or a little longer, sparsely pubescent at the base. Capsule sparsely lepidote, oblong-globose, 5-6 mm.

Distribution

Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia, Switzerland (Alps)

Altitude

Habitat

Open woodland, screes, slopes and scrub

Nomenclatural History

Notes

References

Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):111