Bull. Soc. Bot. France 34: 280 (1887)
Verified by:
Shrub or small tree, 1.5 -9m. Leaves coriaceous, oblanceolate to elliptic, 7-14 x 2—3.7cm, 3—4 x as long as broad, apex acuminate, base cuneate to rounded, margin slightly undulate, both surfaces glabrous when mature though with red punctate hair-bases overlying the veins beneath; petioles l-2cm, stipitate-glandular. Inflorescence 12-17-flowered; rhachis up to 20mm; pedicels 10-25mm, stipitate-glandular, sometimes also with scattered dendroid hairs. Calyx c.2mm, densely glandular, sometimes also dendroid-hairy. Corolla campanulate to tubular-campanulate, with nectar pouches, pubescent within near the base, white or cream to violet-rose, with at least a few greenish or more commonly purple flecks, 35-50mm. Ovary stipitate-glandular, sometimes also sparsely to densely dendroid-tomentose, at least near the base; style glandular to tip. Capsule 10-25 x 6-10mm, curved. ** * Rhododendron iiroratum * var. * irroratum * ** Ovary and usually calyx stipitate-glandular, not tomentose ** * Rhododendron iiroratum * var. * kontumense * ** Ovary and calyx tomentose and glandular. Corolla violet-rose, occasionally paler towards base; filaments with slender hairs at base; capsule 10- 15mm. ** * Rhododendron iiroratum * var. * pogonostylum * ** Ovary and calyx tomentose and glandular. Corolla white or cream to deep pink; stamens with broad papillae at base; capsule 15-25mm long.
Chamberlain, D.F. (1982) A Revision of Rhododendron II. Subgenus Hymenanthes. Notes From the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(2):296