Description

Prostrate to erect dwarf shrubs. Young growth lepidote and pubescent. Leaves obovate or obovate-elliptic, rounded to the apex, cuneate at the base, 17-26 X (6—)8—13 mm, upper surface ± persistently lepidote, margin revolute, lower surface with rather dense, unequal scales, the larger with somewhat undulate rims, c. 2 x the smaller, all golden when young, often becoming dark brown. Inflorescence 1-2-flowered, pedicels 9-18 mm in flower, up to 25 mm in fruit, lepidote. Calyx lobes oblong, rounded, 2-5-4 mm, lepidote, reddish. Corolla pink to pale purplish mauve, 24-30 mm, tube 13-18 mm, densely pilose and sparsely lepidote outside. Stamens 10, filaments pubescent towards the base. Ovary lepidote, sometimes pubescent towards the apex, style impressed, exceeding the stamens, pubescent, lepidote or glabrous at the base. Capsule lepidote, c. 9 mm.

Distribution

India (Arunachal Pradesh), China (SE Xizang)

Altitude

Habitat

Cliffs and ledges

Nomenclatural History

R. patulum Kingdon Ward, loc. cit. Type: Tibet/Assam frontier, Mishmi Hills, Delei valley, 30 v 1928, Kingdon Ward 8260 (holo. K, iso. E)

Notes

References

Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):121