Rhodo. Sikkim Himalaya t. 18 (1849)
Verified by:
Shrub up to 2 m, sometimes epiphytic. Leaves 60-160(180) x 28-60 (-80) mm, elliptic or broadly obovate, rarely somewhat ovate, acute to obtuse at the apex, cuneate at the base, elepidote above, densely lepidote beneath, the surface often brownish. Inflorescence (l-)2-5(-7)-f!owered, pedicels 5-15(-20) mm, lepidote. Calyx usually deeply 5-lobed, the lobes oblong to oblong-lanceolate, margins erose, usually glabrous, (2-5—)5—12(—16) mm. Corolla white, often flushed pink or purplish, more rarely wholly pink, usually with a yellowish blotch at the base, at first narrowly funnel-campanulate, later ± funnel-campanulate, (35-)60-85(-100) mm, the tube (20-)30-50(-60) mm, densely lepidote outside, the scales conspicuous on the tube and middle of the lobes. Stamens (15-)17-25(-27), filaments glabrous or sparsely pilose towards the base. Ovary (8-)10(-12)-Iocular, densely lepidote, tapering into the style which is lepidote over most of its length. Capsule 10-20 mm, (8-)10(-12)-ridged, lepidote, ovoid-globose to oblong-cylindrical. ** * Rhododendron maddenii * var. * crassum * ** Leaves more than 40 mm broad, usually 90-150(-180) x (4O-)55-80 mm, usually ± elliptic; capsules oblong-cylindrical, abruptly rounded to almost truncate at the apex; filaments usually pubescent. ** * Rhododendron maddenii * var. * maddenii * ** Leaves less than 40(-55) mm broad, usually 60-110(-150) x 28-40(-55) mm, often obovate; capsule ovoid-globose, rounded to the apex; filaments often glabrous
Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):33