Description

Shrub or small tree; young shoots soon becoming glabrous. Leaves broadly rhombic 3.5-8 x 1.5-6cm, apex acute, upper surface at first with scattered brown pilose hairs, soon glabrescent, lower surface with scattered brown hairs, mainly on midrib; petioles 5-7mm, covered with brown pilose hairs, later glabrous. Inflorescence 2-4-flowered, flowers appearing before the leaves; pedicels 2-4mm, densely covered with brown pilose hairs. Calyx minute, ciliate. Corolla open funnel-campanulate, 30-40mm, pink with darker flecks, lobes c.20mm, oblong. Stamens 10, unequal, filaments glabrous. Ovary densely pilose; style glabrous or pubescent below, sometimes also papillate. Capsule 10-20mm, curved, with adpressed villose hairs.

Distribution

Japan (Kyushyu, Shikoku, SE Honshu), Korea

Altitude

Habitat

Nomenclatural History

R. shikokianum Makino, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 6: 53 (1892). Type: Japan, Tosa, Sa/cawa (iso. K)

Notes

References

Chamberlain, D.F. & Rae, S.J. (1990) A Revision of Rhododendron IV Subgenus Tsutsusi. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 47(2):151