Description

Prostrate to upright shrublets or shrubs, 0-05-1.5 m. Young growth loriform-setose, the setae persistent. Leaves oblong-orbicular to oblong-elliptic, rarely oblong-obovate, 8-30 x 5-15 mm, upper surface usually rather glossy and elepidote, more rarely matt with persistent dried-out scales, often with a few loriform setae along the midrib near the base, margins loriform-setose, undersurface with dense, overlapping scales which are borne in several tiers but somewhat flattened, the midrib usually with some loriform setae. Inflorescence 1-3-flowered, pedicels lepidote and loriform-setose, 8-18 mm. Calyx lobes oblong-orbicular, rounded to subacute, 4.5-8 x 2-5-6 mm, variably lepidote, loriform-setose and filiform-acicular puberulent, usually loriform-ciliate, puberulent within. Corolla 17-28 mm, the tube 8-15 mm, magenta to purple, rarely bluish purple, pilose and with a few scales outside, pubescent within the tube. Stamens 10. Ovary lepidote, usually puberulent, at least in the impression at the base of the style. Capsule 6-8 mm, lepidote. ** * Rhododendron saluenense * var. * chameunum * ** Prostrate or decumbent shrub, rarely to 1 m; leaves usually glossy and elepidote above, without loriform setae ** * Rhododendron saluenense * var. * saluenense * ** Erect shrub to 1.5 m; upper surface of leaves ± persistently lepidote and usually loriform-setose

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):117