Description

Variably sized shrub, 0.2-3 m. Young shoots lepidote and glabrous or puberulous with fine filiform-acicuiar hairs. Leaves broadly obovate to oblong-elliptic, 15-50 x 7-30 mm, upper surface glabrous except for a few filiform-acicular hairs along the midrib, glabrous beneath, shining white-papillose, densely lepidote with almost rimless scales. Inflorescences 2-3-flowered, pedicels lepidote and glabrous or puberulent, up to 15 mm. Calyx rim-like, densely lepidote, glabrous. Corolla openly funnel-shaped, 7-17 mm; tube 3.5-8.5 mm, white to pale or deep pink, somewhat puberulous within. Filaments sparsely puberulous towards the base. Ovary densely lepidote, glabrous, style glabrous and elepidote. Capsule lepidote, 7-10 mm.

Distribution

China (N, NW, W & C Yunnan, SW Sichuan)

Altitude

Habitat

Thickets, forest margins, scrub and rocky slopes, (800-)2750-4300 m

Nomenclatural History

R. motsouense Leveilie, Feddes Rep. 13:148 (1913). Type: China, Yunnan, montagnes aux environs de Mo-tsou (fleuve bleu), 800 m, Maire (holo. E). R. iochanense Leveilie, nora. nud.

Notes

References

Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):80