Description

Small shrub to l(-l-5) m. Leaf-bud scales quickly deciduous. Leaves narrowly elliptic or oblong-narrowly elliptic, more rarely elliptic, 11-30 (-35) x 5-10(—14) mm, tapered or ± rounded to the base, tapered or rounded to the apex, dark, glossy green, lepidote or elepidote above, beneath pale brown to brown with dense, overlapping scales arranged in 2-3 tiers, the tiers often very clearly distinguished, scales of the lowermost tier golden yellow, paler than those of the upper tiers; margins ciliate with loriform setae or eciliate. Inflorescence dense, several-flowered, pedicels short, lepidote or elepidote, pubescent or glabrous. Calyx lobes oblong, often acute, (2.5-)3-5(-6) mm, usually lepidote outside, margins variably lepidote and/or loriform-ciliate, inner surface variably puberulent. Corolla white, rarely flushed pink or entirely pink, often yellowish orange towards the base of the tube, tube 6-10(-12) mm, lobes (3-)3-5-5(-6) mm, tube usually glabrous outside, more rarely sparsely pilose or somewhat lepidote, densely pilose inside at the throat. Stamens 5(-6). Capsule lepidote, c. 4-5 mm.

Distribution

China (N & NW Yunnan, S & SE Xizang, SW Sichuan)

Altitude

Habitat

Cliffs and ledges, stony or rocky slopes, rarely on forest margins

Nomenclatural History

R. acraium Balfour f. & W. W. Smith, Notes R.B.G„ Edinb. 9:209 (1916). Type: China, Yunnan, mountains of Chungtien plateau, 12-13000 ft, vii 1913, Forrest 10652 (holo. E). R. cephalanthoides Balfour f. & W. W. Smith, op. cit.: 216. Type: China, Yunnan, E flank of the Likiang Range, 11-11500 ft, v 1906, Forrest 2182 (holo. E). R. clivicolum Balfour f. & W. W. Smith, op. cit.: 221. Type: China, Yunnan, mountains in the NE of the Yangtze bend, 11-12000 ft, vii 1913, Forrest 10585 (holo. E). R. cremnophilum Balfour f. & W. W. Smith, op. cit.: 223. Type: China, Yunnan, mountains of the Chungtien plateau, 13000 ft, vii 1914, Forrest 12631 (holo. E). R. gymnomiscum Balfour f. & Kingdon Ward, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 9:230 (1916). Type: China, Tibeto-Yunnan frontier, Ka-gwr-pw glacier, 14000 ft, vi 1913, Kingdon Ward 505 (holo. E). R. lepidanthum Balfour f. & W. W. Smith, op. cit.: 245. Type: China, Yunnan, Lichiang range, 11-14000 ft, v 1913, Forrest 10034 (holo. E). R. tsarongense Balfour f. & Forrest, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 11:150 (1919). Type: China, SE Tibet, Tsarong, on Ka gwr po, 14000 ft, Forrest 14334 (holo. E). R. primuliflorum var. cephalanthoides (Balfour f. & W. W. Smith) Cowan & Davidian, Rhodo. Yearbook 2:79 (1947). R. primuliflorum var. lepidanthum (Balfour f. & W. W. Smith) Cowan & Davidian, loc. cit.

Notes

References

Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):165