Description

Shrub to 80cm. Twigs c.2mm in diameter, sub-densely scaly with flat appressed scales but without simple hairs; internodes 2.5–10cm. Leaves in tight pseudowhorls of 3–8 together. Blade 25–40 x 12–22mm, elliptic to obovate; apex obtuse to rounded; margin entire, narrowly revolute; base broadly tapering, then decurrent with very narrow flanges on each side of the petiole; upper leaf surface glabrescent; lower surface sparsely and more persistently scaly. Scales disc-shaped with broad, silvery, lobed margins and dark centres, slightly impressed. Mid-vein narrowly impressed above, raised beneath for most of its length; lateral veins 2–5 slender, straight veins arising at an acute angle on each side, and disappearing before the margin or obscure, reticulation obscure. Petiole 2–3 x 1–1.5mm, grooved above, somewhat flattened, smooth, densely scaly when young and with narrow lateral wings. Flower buds to c.7 x 4mm. The outer bracts subulate, the inner ovate, somewhat scaly in the central area outside and with a fringe of scales along the margins, without simple hairs. Bracteoles filiform, glabrous. Inflorescence c.4-flowered umbels. Pedicels 10–14 x 0.6mm, sub-densely scaly but without simple hairs. Flowers narrowly funnel-shaped, pink or red. Calyx a low disc, only weakly lobed, densely scaly outside, glabrous within. Corolla 35–43 x c.30mm; tube c.20 x 4 x 8mm, slightly curved, moderately to densely scaly outside, densely patently hairy inside; lobes c.20–24 x 12mm, laxly scaly outside. Stamens exserted to c.10mm; filaments patently hairy in the proximal 2⁄3, glabrous distally; anthers 1.8 x 0.7mm, with rounded bases to the cells and oblique pores. Disc prominent, densely hairy along the upper margin. Ovary c.4 x 1.8mm, sub-ovoid, densely covered in sub-appressed silvery hairs which partially cover an underlayer of brown scales, tapering abruptly distally; style c.20mm, sparsely patently hairy in the proximal 1⁄3, glabrous distally and entirely without scales along its whole length; stigma c.2.5mm in diameter, a broad irregular disc. Fruit c.17 x 4mm, with the hairs persisting and becoming patent, the outer layer peeling irregularly and the valves spreading and twisting on dehiscence.

Distribution

Papua New Guinea, New Ireland, Hans Meyer Range, ridge adjacent to the Weitin River and Mt Angil.

Altitude

Habitat

Epiphytic in mossy montane forest and a ridge dominated by Syzygium and Podocarpus.

Nomenclatural History

Notes

References

Argent, G. (2006) Rhododendrons of subgenus Vireya. RHS:London. Page:221