Description

Branched shrub, 2-6m; young shoots covered with ± flattened weak brown hairs, soon becoming glabrous. Leaves apparently monomorphic, persistent, 2-3 at apex of branches, elliptic-obovate, 4.5-7 x 1.5-2.5cm, apex acute, base cuneate, margin ± entire, both surfaces at first clothed with adpressed grey-brown hairs, becoming glabrous above, lower surface glabrous except along midrib; petioles 4-10mm, covered with adpressed brown hairs. Inflorescence 2-5-flowered; pedicels 8-15mm, densely clothed with strigose brown hairs. Calyx 1mm, densely clothed with strigose brown hairs. Corolla broadly funnel-campanulate, 25-40mm, pale rose-purple, sparingly spotted. Stamens 10(-12), glabrous. Ovary densely clothed with adpressed, flattened, shiny brown hairs; style thickened towards apex, glabrous, Capsule 8-12mm, clothed with flattened brown hairs.

Distribution

Japan (Liukiu and Kawanabe Islands, Yakushima, Kyushyu), S Taiwan?

Altitude

Habitat

Evergreen forests, on slopes

Nomenclatural History

Notes

References

Chamberlain, D.F. & Rae, S.J. (1990) A Revision of Rhododendron IV Subgenus Tsutsusi. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 47(2):111