Stevenson (ed.), The Species of Rhododendron 302 (1930)
Verified by:
Shrub to 1 m, with shredding, brownish bark. Leaves obovate or narrowly obovate, rounded to the apex and base, 30-42 x 14-25 mm, dark green and ± elepidote above, densely lepidote beneath, the smaller scales almost contiguous, pale yellow, clouded or milky. Inflorescence 4-6-flowered, pedicels lepidote, 20-30 mm, rachis obvious, 4-8 mm, lepidote, glabrous. Calyx lobes 3-5-5 mm, rounded at the apex, lepidote at the base and on the margin. Corolla campanulate, 10-13 mm, tube 5-8 mm, dull crimson to plum purple, elepidote outside. Stamens with filaments pubescent over most of their length. Capsule ovoid, 4-6 mm.
India (Arunachal Pradesh), NE Burma
Sheltered slopes and thickets
R. tsangpoense var. pruniflorum (Hutchinson) Cowan & Davidian, Rhodo. Yearbook 3:90 (1948). R. sordidum Hutchinson, Rhodo. Soc. Notes 3:286 (1932). Type: Assam, Kingdon Ward 8415 (iso. E)
Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):143