Description

Shrub to 1 -5 m, usually flowering precociously. Young growth lepidote and usually with an indumentum of twisted or curled loriform setae. Leaves deciduous, flat, obovate or obovate-elliptic, 24-40 X 10-20 mm, ± rounded at the apex, cuneate at the base, petiole and lower surface with a ± dense indumentum of twisted and curled loriform setae, scales ± equal, large, golden, distant, upper surface with straight loriform setae and/or puberulent, sometimes lepidote. Inflorescence 1-3-flowered, pedicels lepidote and with numerous loriform setae, 8-13 mm. Calyx lobed, often unequally so, lobes 2-5 mm, lepidote and loriform-ciliate. Corolla yellow or greenish yellow, occasionally tending to orange, 18-23 mm, tube 8-11 mm, lepidote and variably loriform-setose outside. Ovary lepidote, rarely with a few loriform setae towards the apex. Style sometimes puberulent at the base. Capsule cylindric, 8-10 mm, lepidote, sometimes with a few persistent setae.

Distribution

N Burma, China (C & SW Yunnan)

Altitude

Habitat

Slopes, rocky places, scrub, cliffs

Nomenclatural History

R. xanthinum Balfour f. & W. W. Smith, Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 27:87 (1916). Type: China, Yunnan, Shweli/Salween Divide, vi 1913, Forrest 12066 (holo. E). R. lithophilum Balfour f. & Kingdon Ward, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 13:275 (1922). Type: NE Burma, western spur of Imaw Bum, 12000 ft, 2 vii 1919, Kingdon Ward 3305 (iso. E). R. oulotrichum Balfour f. & Forrest, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 13:281 (1922). Type: China, Yunnan, Shweli/Salween Divide, western flank, 10000 ft, viii 1912, Forrest 8905 (holo. E). R. lophotogynum Balfour f. & Forrest, nomen nudum.

Notes

References

Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):153