Rhododendrons, their Names and Addresses, 73 (1923)
Verified by:
Shrub, 0.6-4 m. Young growth lepidote, not pruinose, puberulent. Leaves evergreen or subdeciduous, sometimes entirely deciduous, 35-60 (-73) x 13-23 mm, narrowly elliptic, acute at apex, cuneate at base, ± elepidote above, lepidote beneath with flat, yellow or brown scales 3-5 x their own diameter apart; petiole and lower surface pale green, not pruinose. Inflorescence loose, pedicels lepidote and sometimes puberulent, (8-)10-18 mm. Calyx minute, disc-like or undulate, sometimes ciliate. Corolla white, white flushed pink or lilac, often with yellow or red spots, (23-)25-32 mm, ± elepidote outside. Capsule 11-18 mm.
China (N & NW Yunnan, SW & NW Sichuan)
Forest and forest margins, thickets, rarely on cliffs and in meadows, 2000-4500 m
R. hormophorum Hort., pro parte.
Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):68