Ill. Handb. Laubh. 2:490(1909), non (A. Gray) Suringar (1908).
Verified by:
Shrub, l-2.5m; young shoots sparsely tomentose, eglandular, perulae deciduous. Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate, 8-14 x 2.5-3.5cm, 3-4 x as long as broad, apex acute to ± rounded, apiculate, base cuneate to rounded, upper surface glabrous, lower surface with a dense compacted grey to fawn tomentum or indumentum thin and agglutinated or occasionally giabrescent; petioles 2-2.5cm, usually densely floccose-tomentose. Inflorescence lax, 9-12-flowered; rhachis 10-20mm; pedicels 20-30mm, with a sparse dendroid indumentum. Calyx 2-3mm, lobes rounded-triangular, glabrous. Corolla widely funnel-campanulate, pink to soft rose, with conspicuous flecks, 30-45mm. Ovary white-tomentose. Capsule to at least 22 x 10mm. ** * Rhododendron japonicum * var. * japonicum * ** ** * Rhododendron japonicum * var. * pentamerum * **
Japan (Honshu, Kyishu)
Hill tops, mountain ridges
Chamberlain, D.F. (1982) A Revision of Rhododendron II. Subgenus Hymenanthes. Notes From the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(2):308