Trans. Linn. Soc. London, II, Bot. 1916. 9: 99.
WFO ID: wfo-0000405712
IPNI ID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:333526-1
Verified by:
Prostrate shrub to 10cm. Twigs c.2mm in diameter, often pale and sub-densely covered with sub-stellate scales when young, later, glabrescent but with numerous thick cushions of leaf bases remaining; internodes 2.5–6cm. Leaves densely spirally arranged, of a distinctive purple-colour. Blade 18–27 x 10–19mm, broadly elliptic to elliptic-obovate; apex rounded, with a small protruding apical gland; margin minutely crenulate and weakly revolute; base broadly tapering; laxly to sub-densely scaly initially on both sides, early glabrescent above, persistently scaly beneath. Scales small, flat, sub-circular, marginal zone large, thin, variously angled, sub-stellate or crenate; centre small, dark, faintly impressed. Mid-vein slightly impressed above, broad and obtusely prominent beneath in the proximal part; lateral veins inconspicuous. Petiole 2–4 x 1–2mm, rounded or somewhat flattened. Outer bracts 10–15mm, ovate, inner ones to 20–25 x 8–15mm, obovate to spathulate, apex shortly acuminate, or obtuse, membranous, entirely glabrous. Bracteoles to 18 x 1mm, linear, glabrous. Inflorescence 2–4-flowered, flowers half-hanging. Pedicels 12–15 x 0.8mm, densely sub-stellately scaly, without hairs. Calyx c.3mm in diameter, obliquely disc-shaped, obscurely lobed, scaly outside. Corolla 35–45mm, funnel-shaped, bright orange, fleshy; tube 20–30 x c.5 x 9–10mm, straight, glabrous on both sides; lobes 14–17 x 12–15mm, broadly obovate to sub-circular, semi-erect. Stamens exserted to c.6mm, unequal; filaments linear, glabrous; anthers c.2.8–3 x 1.3–1.5mm, obovate-oblong, each cell ending in a short basal apiculus. Disc prominent, glabrous. Ovary c.6 x 2.5mm, sub-cylindrical, densely sub-stellately scaly, tapering distally; style scaly at the base, glabrous distally, slightly longer than the stamens; stigma shortly obconical.
Indonesia, New Guinea (W), Mt Jaya (Carstensz)
Growing on the open valley floor in dark peaty soil with limestone fragments.
Argent, G. (2006) Rhododendrons of subgenus Vireya. RHS:London. Page:226