Rhodo. Sikkim Himalaya t. 13 (1849)
Verified by:
Straggling epiphytic shrub, 0-3-1.3 m. Indumentum whitish to beige. Leaves 34-50 x 14-25 mm, oblong-elliptic, obtuse at the apex, upper surface smooth, shining, glabrous and elepidote. Inflorescences 2-3-flowered, pedicels densely tomentose. Calyx 5-lobed, lobes oblong or oblong-obovate, long ciliate, the outer surface sparsely to densely tomentose and with a few reddish scales. Corolla white, white flushed pink, or cream, openly funnel-campanulate, ± actinomorphic, 15-22 mm, tube 7-10 mm, lepidote outside, ± glabrous within. Stamens 10, ± actinomophic, filaments pilose in the lower part. Ovary 5-locular, lepidote and densely tomentose, especially towards the apex. Style sharply deflexed, shorter than the stamens, usually with a few hairs and scales at the base. Capsule ± oblong, c. 12 mm.
Nepal, India (Sikkim), Bhutan, China (S Xizang)
In dense forest
Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):27