Blumea 1963. 12: 95.
WFO ID: wfo-0000400212
IPNI ID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:333077-1
Verified by:
Shrub to 4m. Twigs slender, the tips with a dense brown covering of stellate scales; internodes 2–10cm. Leaves 4–6 together in pseudowhorls. Blade 30–80 x 20–40mm, elliptic to obovate-broadly elliptic; apex obtuse or sub-acuminate; margin slightly revolute at the very edge; base tapering; covered with fragile brown stellate scales initially, early glabrescent with age above, less so below especially on the veins. Scales dendroid, with a deeply stellately divided marginal zone, depressed towards the minute centre, which is prolonged downwards into a very slender stem, which rests on a distinct epidermal tubercle. Mid-vein narrowly impressed above, thickly prominent proximally below, less so distally; lateral veins 6–9 per side, irregular, curved-anastomosing before the margin, very slightly impressed or often obscure above, hardly prominent beneath. Petiole 8–14 x 1.5–2mm, densely scaly initially. Flower buds sub-globose, 10–15mm in diameter. Bracts to 12mm, thin, the outer ones ovate, densely stellate-scaly at the midline outside and with a fragile scaly fringe; inner ones sub-spathulate, glabrous. Bracteoles c.10 x 1–1.5mm, sub-spathulate-linear, glabrous. Inflorescence of 2–4-flowered open umbels. Pedicels c.10mm, slender, densely stellately scaly. Calyx c.2.5mm in diameter, obliquely rimmed, minutely 5-lobed, scaly outside. Corolla 30–40mm, tubular, curved, expanded at the lobes, zygomorphic, pale to deep red; tube 15–20 x 3 x 5mm, glossy and densely covered with golden scales outside, laxly hairy inside; lobes c.10 x 8mm, sub-spathulate-obovate. Stamens slightly exserted; filaments linear, densely to laxly hairy in the proximal ¾, glabrous distally; anthers c.2 x 1mm, obovate-oblong, dark purple to almost black, the base obtuse. Disc prominently hairy only on the upper margin. Ovary 5 x 2.5mm, sub-cylindrical, densely covered with brown stellate scales and paler, appressed hairs, tapering distally; style c.12mm, slightly hairy at the base, glabrous distally; stigma club-shaped. Fruit 20–25 x 4–5mm, fusiform, densely scaly and hairy.
Indonesia, New Guinea (W), Vogelkop Peninsula, Tamrau, Nettoti and Arfak Mts. Common in the Arfak Mountains around the Anggi Lakes
In understory of Nothofagus forest
Argent, G. (2006) Rhododendrons of subgenus Vireya. RHS:London. Page:94