Description

Shrub to 3 m. Young shoots with a dimorphic indumentum of filiform-acicular hairs and longer, loriform setae which have swollen bases. Leaves narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 15-90 x 4-15 mm, indumentum of the upper surface like that of the young shoots, lower surface lepidote and with a dense indumentum of loriform hairs. Inflorescences 2-3(-5)-flowered. Calyx rim-like or clearly 5-lobed, with lobes 2-3 mm, fringed with loriform setae. Corolla variable in shape and size (see below), white to deep pink, the tube glabrous inside. Stamens 10, filaments pubescent towards the base, usually densely so. Ovary lepidote and densely pilose, the scales obscured by the hairs. Style sparsely pubescent at the base. Capsule lepidote and pilose, 6-9 mm. ** * Rhododendron scabrifolium * var. * pauciflorum * ** Corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, 12 • 5-23 mm, tube 6-17 mm. Corolla 16-23 mm; leaves usually larger, c. 25-90 x 8-25 mm ** * Rhododendron scabrifolium * var. * scabrifolium * ** Corolla openly funnel-shaped, 9-15 mm, tube 3-7 mm ** * Rhododendron scabrifolium * var. * spiciferum * ** Corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, 12 • 5-23 mm, tube 6-17 mm. Corolla 12.5-15 mm; leaves mostly narrow, c. 15-30 x 4-10 mm.

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):84