Description

Shrub or small tree, l-6m; young shoots tomentose. Leaves elliptic to obovate, 9-15 x 2-4.2cm, 2.7-4.5 x as long as broad, apex ± cuspidate, base rounded, upper surface glabrous at maturity, lower surface with short folioliferous hairs on and near the midrib, otherwise glabrous; petioles 1.4-2cm, with an evanescent tomentum and occasionally a few stipitate glands. Inflorescence lax, 7-10-flowered; rhachis less than 5mm; pedicels 10-25mm, tomentose. Calyx c. 1.5mm, lobes rounded, ciliate. Corolla narrowly campanulate, with a broad base but lacking nectar pouches, white suffused with pink, with a purple basal blotch and flecks. Ovary densely tomentose, eglandular; style glabrous or glandular at base. Capsule c.20 x 4-6mm.

Distribution

China (Sichuan & adjacent parts of NE Yunnan)

Altitude

Habitat

Woods, open slopes, etc.

Nomenclatural History

R. monosematum Hutchinson, Bot. Mag. 142: t. 8675 (1916). Type: a plant grown at Kew from seed collected by Wilson in 1903 as seed no. 1521 (holo. E). Ic: Fang, PL Omeiens. t.22 (1942).

Notes

References

Chamberlain, D.F. (1982) A Revision of Rhododendron II. Subgenus Hymenanthes. Notes From the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(2):270