台湾高山杜鹃 tai wan gao shan du juan

Rhododendron rubropilosum Hayata var. taiwanalpinum (Ohwi) S. Y. Lu et al.

Shrubs, 1–1.5 m; young shoots brown-strigose. Leaves monomorphic. Petiole 2–3 mm, appressed-strigose; leaf blade leathery, ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 1.5–2(–3) × 0.7–1.2(–1.8) cm; base cuneate; apex acute, mucronate; abaxial surface densely strigose; adaxial surface sparsely strigose. Inflorescence (1–)2–3-flowered. Pedicel 5–7 mm, densely reddish-brown hairy; calyx lobes 1–2 mm, densely hairy, apex rounded; corolla broadly funnel-campanulate, pink, with rose flecks, 1–1.5(–2) cm, tube 4–6 mm, glabrous; stamens 9–10, unequal, filaments hairy in lower half; ovary grayish-pubescent; style pubescent in lower half. Capsule not known.

Alpine meadows, mountain peaks; 2800–3000 m. Taiwan.

This species was originally described as being allied to Rhododendron oldhamii, but it lacks the glandular indumentum of that species. Although R. taiwanalpinum is apparently a distinct species, the present authors’ knowledge of it comes from a single inadequate specimen and the type was not seen.