Rhododendron heliolepis Franch.

Shrubs or sometimes small trees, evergreen, (1–)2–5(–6) m tall; young shoots stout, densely scaly. Petiole 5–15 mm; leaf blade with a strong oily fragrance, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 5–12 × 1.7–4 cm; base narrow or sometimes rounded; apex acute or acuminate, apiculate; abaxial surface pale green, pale yellowish green or brown, scales 0.5–2 × their own diameter apart, sometimes contiguous, large, all ± similar, thin, flat or concave in center, pale yellowish green or gray-white; adaxial surface deep green or brown, scales dense when young, quickly deciduous. Inflorescence terminal, umbellate, 5–7(–10)-flowered. Pedicel thin, 1–3 cm, densely scaly; calyx undulate; lobes ca. 2 mm, sometimes oblong, densely scaly; corolla campanulate, pink, pale purplish red or rarely white, with purple or brown spots inside, 2.5–3.5 cm, outer surface sparsely or densely scaly sometimes also pubescent; stamens 10, unequal, shorter than corolla; filaments hispid below; ovary 5(or 6)-locular, densely scaly; style shorter than or as long as, rarely longer than stamens, glabrous or pubescent below. Capsule cylindric, 10–13 mm. Fl. Jul–Aug, fr. Aug–Nov.

Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Myanmar].

Coniferous-broad-leaved mixed forests, Abies forest margins, Rhododendron thickets, thickets on slopes, wet valleys; 3000–3700(–4000) m.

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Rhododendron heliolepis (亮鳞杜鹃) is a rhododendron species native to Myanmar, and Sichuan, Xizang, and Yunnan in China, where it grows at altitudes of 3,000–3,700 m (9,800–12,100 ft). It is an evergreen shrub that grows to 2–5 m (6.6–16.4 ft) in height, with leaves that are elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 5–12 by 1.7–4 cm in size. The flowers are pink, pale purple-red, or rarely white, with purple or brown spots inside.