Description

Much branched shrub to 0.6(-l-2) m. Leaves 6-5-21 x 3-12.5 mm, broadly elliptic to elliptic, oblong or ovate, apex rounded, mucronate, base broadly cuneate to truncate, undersurface heavily stippled reddish brown on a fawn background, the scales overlapping to slightly separated, bicolorous, dark brown or amber and pale golden, the darker scales usually predominating. Inflorescence up to 6-flowered, pedicels lepidote, rarely pubescent as well, 2-4 mm. Calyx lobes (2-5-)4-5(-6) mm, oblong or broadly ovate, apex obtuse or rounded, rarely deltoid, with a broad central band of scales, occasionally shortly pubescent, margin ciliate. Corolla usually intense purple or yellow, occasionally deep crimson or magenta, very rarely white, broadly funnel-shaped, (8-)10-16(-18) mm, tube 3-6(-8) mm, pubescent in the throat and sometimes on the outside, lepidote outside. Stamens 5-10, number variable even in the one inflorescence, filaments pubescent towards the base. Ovary either entirely pubescent or bearing scales on the upper Vi, occasionally with an apical tuft of hairs, style 10-19 mm (rarely shorter), usually pubescent to some extent. Capsule broadly ovoid, 4-6 mm, pubescent, lepidote above. ** * Rhododendron rupicola * var. * * ** Corolla purple to crimson, rarely white ** * Rhododendron rupicola * var. * chryseum * ** Corolla yellow. Calyx lobes margined with hairs only. ** * Rhododendron rupicola * var. * muliense * ** Corolla yellow. Calyx lobes margined with scales and hairs.

Distribution

Altitude

Habitat

Nomenclatural History

Notes

References

Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):108