Rhododendron bracteatum Rehder & Wilson

Shrubs, 0.9–3 m tall; young shoots thin, purple, scaly, pubescent. Petiole 3–12 mm, sparsely scaly; leaf blade thinly leathery, elliptic or oblong, ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 1.3–5 × 0.9–2.5 cm; base broadly cuneate or rounded; apex acute, apiculate; abaxial surface pale brown or pale yellow, scales 1–4 × their own diameter apart, large, dimorphic, golden, glabrous; adaxial surface deep green or olive-green, scaly, otherwise glabrous. Inflorescence terminal, umbellate, 3–6-flowered. Pedicel slender, 1.3–2.5 cm, sparsely scaly; calyx lobes 5, 1–2 mm, ovate or triangular, sparsely scaly; corolla broadly funnelform-campanulate or campanulate, white or pale red, inside with deep red spots, 1.5–2.5 cm, outer surface scaly, without hairs; stamens 10, unequal, 1.2–2.5 cm; filaments pubescent below; ovary 5-locular, densely scaly; style as long as or slightly shorter than corolla, scales absent, usually glabrous, rarely pubescent at base. Capsule cylindric, 7–15 mm, densely scaly. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct.

NW Sichuan.

Forests, cliffs; 2600–3500 m.