J. Bot. (Lond.) 5: 358 (1853).
Verified by:
Shrub or small tree, 3-8m. Leaves sub-coriaceous, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 10-13.5 x 2-3.5cm, 4-6 x as long as broad, apex acuminate, base cuneate to rounded, margin usually strongly undulate, upper surface glabrous when mature, lower surface hairy on the midrib, otherwise glabrous, punctate hair-bases lacking; petioles 1 — 1.5cm, glabrescent. Inflorescence dense, 10-20-flowered; rhachis up to 15mm; pedicels c.8mm, sparsely stellate-tomentose. Calyx 2-3mm, with conspicuous rounded lobes, glabrous or sparsely glandular-ciliate. Corolla fleshy, tubular-campanulate, with nectar pouches, glabrous within, deep rose to scarlet, with darker flecks, 30-40mm. Ovary with a few rufous dendroid hairs, eglandular; style glabrous. Capsule 15—25 x c.4mm, curved.
NE India (Arunachal Pradesh), Bhutan & adjacent parts of China (S Xizang)
Mixed forests
?R. shepherdii Nuttall, ibid. 5: 360 (1853). Type: NE India, Arunachal Pradesh, Oola Mts, Booth, n.v. R. pankimense Cowan & Kingdon-Ward, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 19: 180 (1936). Type: NE India, Arunachal Pradesh, Pankim La, 8000-9000ft, 3 v 1936, Kingdon-Ward inn (holo. E). Ic.: Bot. Mag. 85: t.5129 (1859).
Chamberlain, D.F. (1982) A Revision of Rhododendron II. Subgenus Hymenanthes. Notes From the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(2):302