Description

Weak, erect, 1- to few-stemmed shrub to 50cm. Twigs 1–2mm in diameter, young ones purplish, laxly scaly; internodes 3–9cm. Leaves 4–6 together in loose pseudowhorls. Blade 30–50 x 15–23mm, obovate to elongate-obovate; apex rounded, to obtuse, sometimes a little emarginate; margin slightly revolute and sub-crenulate with impressed scales; base tapering; immature ones sub-densely or laxly scaly on both sides, mature ones shining, early glabrescent above, more slowly so beneath. Scales small, flat, marginal zone angular or stellately lobed; centre small and impressed. Mid-vein slightly grooved proximally, flat distally above, as thick as the petiole at the base, gradually decreasing distally beneath; lateral veins 3–4 per side, obscure, without visible reticulation. Petiole 6–10 x c.1mm, winged in the upper part by the decurrent blade, nearly rounded below. Flower buds c.20 x 8mm, oblong. Bracts to 12 x 7mm, ovate, distinctly keeled; inner ones obovate to spathulate, all shining and laxly scaly outside, fringed with deciduous scales. Inflorescence 2-flowered. Pedicels c.10mm, slender, sub-densely sub-stellately scaly. Calyx c.2mm in diameter, oblique, wavy. Corolla c.23mm, sub-campanulate-tubular, zygomorphic, hanging, waxy, reddish-purple, shiny, glabrous; tube 15–18 x c.3 x c.6mm, straight, distinctly 5-pouched near the base; lobes 6–8 x 6–8mm, erect, broadly obovate-spathulate. Stamens exserted to c.4mm; filaments linear, glabrous; anthers c.2 x 1.5mm, sub- obovate-elliptic, the base obtuse. Disc prominent, glabrous. Ovary 2.5 x 1.2mm, sub-cylindrical, tapering distally; style 7–8mm, slender, glabrous; stigma club-shaped.

Distribution

Indonesia, New Guinea (W), Arfak Mts: Mt Sarumont near Iray, Anggi Gigi Lake, and near Lake Habbema. Known only from the type collection and one other.

Rhododendron porphyranthes Sleumer

Description

Distribution

Altitude

Habitat

Nomenclatural History

Notes

References