Description

Shrub or small tree, l-3m; young shoots at first covered with adpressed yellowish hairs, becoming glabrous and grey. Leaves deciduous, ovate-lanceolate, sometimes broadly ovate, 3-7.5 x 2-4.5cm, apex acute, upper surface dark green, lower surface pale; petioles 5-~20mm, glabrous. Inflorescence 1-2-flowered, flowers appearing before leaves; pedicels 5-8mm, enclosed by bud scales, villose. Calyx minute, covered with grey/yellowish adpressed hairs. Corolla funnelform, 25-30mm, rose-purple, upper lobe spotted, 20-25mm, oblong. Stamens 10, equal, glabrous. Ovary yellowish-grey-villose; style glabrous. C´R._/ec.l0mm, cylindric, villose.

Distribution

China (W Hubei, E Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Auhui), Taiwan

Altitude

Habitat

Cliffs and thickets

Nomenclatural History

Syn.: R. umbelliferum Levi., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12; 102 (1913). Type: China, Guizhou, Pin fa, 2 iv 1902, Cavalerie 10 (holo. E). R. shojoense Hayata, J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 30: 174 (1911). Type: Taiwan, Nantou, Kawakami & Mori 1160, n.v. R. gnaphalocarpum Hayata, Ic. PI. Formosan. 3: 132 (1913). Type: China, Fujian, Isan, 1910, Nagasawa 239, n.v.

Notes

References

Chamberlain, D.F. & Rae, S.J. (1990) A Revision of Rhododendron IV Subgenus Tsutsusi. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 47(2):144