Rhododendron uvariifolium Diels

Perhaps var. griseum should be maintained, but at subspecific rank on account of the different leaf indumentum and the more westerly distribution than typical Rhododendron uvariifolium.

Shrubs or trees, 2–10 m tall; young shoots whitish or gray-tomentose. Petiole 10–20 mm, gray-tomentose; leaf blade leathery, oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate or obovate, 11–24 × 3.5–6.5 cm; base cuneate, sometimes obtuse; apex obtuse or acute, mucronate; abaxial surface gray-white to gray-brown, smooth, indumentum dense, continuous, hairs dendroid-branched. Inflorescence racemose-umbellate, 8–18-flowered; rachis ca. 10 mm. Pedicel 1.5–2.5 cm, sparsely floccose or almost glabrous; calyx lobes 5, 0.5–1 mm; corolla campanulate, white to pink or rose, with crimson basal blotch and purple spots on upper lobes, 3–3.5 cm, lobes 5; stamens 10, unequal, filaments pubescent at base; ovary glabrous; style pistil slightly shorter than or nearly equaling corolla, glabrous; stigma capitate. Capsule elongated, strongly curved, 3.5–5 × 3–4 mm, glabrous. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Aug–Oct.

SW Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan.

Coniferous forests, Rhododendron thickets, mountain slopes; 2100–4000 m.

Rhododendron uvariifolium (紫玉盘杜鹃) is a rhododendron species native to southwestern Sichuan, southeastern Xizang, and northwestern Yunnan in China, where it grows at altitudes of 2,100–4,000 m (6,900–13,100 ft). It is an evergreen shrub or tree growing to 2–10 m (6.6–32.8 ft) in height, with leathery leaves that are oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate or obovate, 11–24 by 3.5–6.5 cm in size. Flowers are white, pink, or rose, with crimson basal blotch and purple spots.