Bot. Mag. 82: t. 4904 (1856)
Verified by:
A shrub or small tree to 15 m high, young branches glabrous. Leaves glabrous; blade 60-170 x 20-50 mm, elliptic to narrowly elliptic, base cuneate, apex acute or acuminate, coriaceous, margins glabrous (except in juvenile or sucker leaves, adult leaves only rarely with marginal bristles; petiole 10-18 mm long. Inflorescence buds lateral, (1-) 3-5-flowered, at the ends of leafy shoots, bud scales glabrous or minutely pilose on the back, margin shortly ciliate or glandular, caducous; pedicels 15-20 mm long, glabrous. Calyx of 5 minute glabrous lobes (abnormal elongate, pectinate or ciliate lobes also occur). Corolla white, pink, violet or magenta, with a yellow blotch, glabrous, with a narrow tube 16-22 mm long, and broad, spreading lobes to 30-40mm long. Stamens 10, filaments hairy on lower part. Ovary cylindric, c.5 mm long, glabrous; style glabrous. Capsule narrowly cylindric, c.70mm long.
China (SE Xizang, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan), Taiwan, hongkong, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), India (Assam), Burma, Thailand, Laos, CAMBODIA, Vietnam, W MalaySIA (Kedah, Pahang).
R. ellipticum Maxim., Bull. Acad. Sci. St. Petersb. 32:497 (1888). Type: Japan,
Yayama Archipelago, 1886, Tashiro, n.v. R. westlandii Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 26:31
(1889). Type: Hongkong, Lantao Island, 2500 ft, Westland 87 (holo. K). R. oxyphyllum
Franchet, J. Bot. (Morot) 12:264 (1898). Type: China, C Yunnan, entre Moungle et Kou ma
tze, 30 iii 1895, Henry, n.v. R. siamensis Diels, Feddes Repert. 4:289 (1904). Type:
Thailand, Doi Sutep, 1500m, 20 iii 1905, Hosseus 507 (iso. E). R. klossii Ridley, J.
Fed. Mai. St. Mus. 4:43 (1909). Type: Malaysia, Gunong Berumbum, 6000 ft, Ridley 13589
(holo. SING). R. leucobotrys Ridley, loc. cit. (1909). Type: Malaysia, Kedah Peak
(Gunong Jerai), 3-4000 ft, vi 1893, Ridley 5531 (holo. SING). R. leiopodum Hayata, Icon.
PI. Formosan. 3:136 (1913). Type: Taiwan, Shichiscitansan, iv 1911, Sasaki, n.v. R.
leptosanthum Hayata, op. cit.: 137 (1913). Type: Taiwan, prope Ako, 5000 ft, 1907, T.
Kawakami, n.v. R. tanakai Hayata, op. cit. 4:15 (1914). Type: Taiwan, Mt Arisan, inter
Karapin et Suisharyo, 3000 ft, iv 1913, Hayata & Tanaka, n.v. R. stenaulum
Baulf. f. & Forest, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 10:157 (1917). Type: China, W Yunnan,
divide between the Pu-piao and Yung Chang valleys, 7-8000 ft, iv 1910, Forrest 5530
(holo. E). R. nematocalyx Balf. f. &. W.W. Sm., Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 10:124
(1917). Type: China, W Yuinnan, Hills NW of Tengyueh, 25∞ 15'N, 7000 ft, v 1912, Forrest 7673 (holo. E). R. mackenzianum Forrest, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 12:132(1920). Type: China, W Yunnan, Shweli-Salween divide, 25∞N, 9000 ft, iv 1918, Forrest 16111 (holo. E). R. laoticum Dop, Fl. Gen. Indo-chin. 3:735 (1930). Type: Laos, environs de Nape, Delacour, n.v. R. pectinatum Hutchinson, Gard. Chron. ser. 3,101:119 (1937). Type: a plant grown from seed at Exbury of Forrest 26022, originating from Yunnan in China.
Philipson, W.R. & Philipson, M.N. (1986) A Revision of Rhododendron III. Subgenera Azaleastrum, Mumeazalea, Candidastrum and Therorhodion. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 44(1):13