Description

Erect, openly branched or fastigiate shrub up to 1-25 m. Leaves (3-)5-12(-13-5) x (1 -8-)2-5(-6) mm, elliptic, oblong or narrowly obovate to lanceolate or oblanceolate, apex obtuse, usually shortly mucronate, base narrowly cuneate, undersurface uniformly straw-coloured with contiguous to overlapping scales. Inflorescence l(-2)-flowered, pedicels lepidote, 0.5-2 mm. Calyx 0-5-1.2 mm or rim-like, lobes rounded to deltoid, variously lepidote and/or ciliate. Corolla pale lavender-blue to deep purplish, broadly funnel-shaped, 7-11 mm, tube (2-)3-4 mm, sparingly lepidote outside, pubescent inside. Stamens 10 (rarely more), exceeding the corolla, filaments pubescent towards the base. Ovary lepidote, style short (3-5.8 mm) or long (10-16 mm), glabrous or rarely with a few scales or hairs near the base. Capsule 3-3-5 mm, lepidote.

Distribution

China (N Sichuan, Quinghai, Gansu)

Altitude

Habitat

Forest and open alpine slopes

Nomenclatural History

R. polifoiium Franchet, Journ. de Bot. 9:397 (1895). Type: China, Sutchuen occidental, aux environs de Ta-tsien-lou, Souiie (holo. P). R. spilanthwn Hutchinson, Rhodo. Soc. Notes 3, No. 5:287 (1932). Type: China, Szechuan, Muli or Mili kingdom, vi 1922, Rock 6460 (iso. E)

Notes

References

Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):97