Gard. Chron. 88:299 (1930)
Verified by:
Dwarf, ± prostrate shrub, the ends of the branches ascending, to 0-5 m. Young growth lepidote. Leaves oblong-elliptic, acute or rounded at the apex, ± cuneate towards the base, 13-25 x 5-10 mm, upper surface ± elepidote, margins revolute, lower surface with very distant, small, ± equal scales with very narrow rims, at first golden, rapidly becoming dark brown to almost black. Inflorescence l~2-flowered, pedicels lepidote, 10-12 mm, extending to 25 mm in fruit. Calyx lobes 1-5-2-5 mm, oblong, obtuse, lepidote. Corolla purple, densely pilose and sparsely lepidote outside, 21-25 mm, tube 12-14 mm. Stamens 10, filaments pubescent towards the base. Ovary lepidote, style impressed, longer than the stamens, glabrous, elepidote. Capsule lepidote, c. 9 mm. ** * Rhododendron uniflorum * var. * imperator * ** Leaves acute at the apex ** * Rhododendron uniflorum * var. * uniflorum * ** Leaves rounded at the apex
Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):121