Bot. Mag. 83: t. 4992 (1857)
Verified by:
Epiphytic or free-growing shrub up to 2 m. Young growth sparsely loriform-setose, the setae usually quickly deciduous. Leaves obovate or narrowly elliptic, gradually tapered to tne base, the apex shortly acuminate, 65-100 x 28-40 mm, upper surface dark green, lower surface paler with distant, unequal, golden scales; petiole lepidote. Inflorescence (l-)2-5-flowered, pedicels short, lepidote. Calyx disc-like, scarcely lobed, lepidote, loriform-ciliate. Corolla white, often with a yellow blotch at the base, openly funnel-campanulate, 50-60(-65) mm, tube 26-34(-40) mm, sparsely pubescent at the base, lepidote along the adaxial part only; lobes with crisped margins. Stamens 10 (not 12-14 as described by Hooker), pubescent towards the base. Ovary lepidote, tapering into the style which is lepidote well above the base. Capsule up to 30 mm, lepidote.
Burma, Laos, Thailand
Usually epiphytic in forests, but also on cliffs or ridges
R. formosum Wallich var. veitchianum (Hooker) Kurz, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 46(2):276 (1887). R. cubitii Hutchinson, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 12:78 (1919). Type: N Burma, Bhamo Division, Maru-kahtung (Surdum), 5500 ft, iii 1910. Cubitt 385 (holo. E), non hort. R. smilesiiHutchinson, op. cit.: 71. Type: N Siam, Pu Sai Leng, 1 iv 1893, Smiles (holo. K)
Cullen, J. (1980) A Revision of Rhododendron 1: Subgenus Rhododendron sections Rhododendron & Pogonanthum. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 39(1):55