Rhododendron rufescens

Description

Small shrubs,(0.2–)0.3–0.5(–1) m tall;branchlets usually twiggy and intricate,scaly;bud scales deciduous.Petiole 2–5 mm;leaf blade aromatic,elliptic,ovate-oblong,rarely ovate,1–2(–2.5) × (0.5–)0.6–0.9(–1.2) cm;base rounded or tapering;apex usually rounded,mucronate;abaxial surface scales overlapping,cinnamon or dark brown,arranged in 2–3 tiers,the lowermost tier usually darker than rest;adaxial surface dark green,shiny,glabrous.Inflorescence 5–8(–12)-flowered.Pedicel ca.0.2 cm;calyx lobes 3–4 mm,oblong-elliptic,persisting to enclose mature capsule,scales mostly absent,margin ciliate and scaly;corolla narrowly tubular,white or pale rose,1.2–1.4(–1.7) cm,tube 6–8(–9.5) mm,inner surface densely pilose;lobes spreading,rounded,usually sparsely scaly outside;stamens 5,included in corolla tube,filaments glabrous;ovary ca.1 mm,scaly;style thick,straight.Capsule ovoid,ca.3 mm,scaly.Fl.May–Jul,fr.Sep.