Rhododendron rupicola W. W. Sm.

Small shrubs, 0.6–(1.2) m tall, much-branched, scaly. Petiole 1–3(–4.5) mm, scaly; leaf blade broadly elliptic, oblong or ovate, 0.65–2.1 × 0.3–1.3 cm; base broadly cuneate to truncate; apex rounded, mucronate; abaxial surface yellowish brown, scales overlapping to slightly spaced, 2-colored, dark brown or amber and pale golden, the darker scales usually predominating; adaxial surface densely scaly. Inflorescence 2–6(–8)-flowered. Pedicel 0.2–0.4 cm, scaly; calyx reddish purple; lobes (2.4–)4–5(–6) mm, oblong or broadly ovate, persistent in fruit, scales forming a broad central band, margin with or without scales, sometimes ciliate; corolla broadly funnelform, purple to crimson, or yellow, rarely white, (0.8–)1–1.6(–1.8) cm, tube 3–6(–8) mm, outer surface scaly, sometimes pubescent, throat pubescent; stamens 5–10, number variable even within one inflorescence, filaments pubescent towards base; ovary 2–3 mm, scaly, pubescent; style 1–1.9 cm, longer than stamens, pubescent or glabrous. Capsule broadly ovoid, 4–6 mm, scaly, pubescent. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Jul–Sep.

W Sichuan, SE Xizang, C and N Yunnan [NE Myanmar].

Pinus forests, forest margins, Rhododendron thickets, alpine meadows, open stony grasslands, open moorlands, rocky or stony slopes; 2800–4800(–4900) m.