Rhododendron setosum D. Don

Erect shrubs, 0.1–0.3(–1.2) m tall, usually intricately branched; young shoots densely scaly with flaky scales, densely setose. Petiole 1–3 mm, scaly, setose; leaf blade ovate, elliptic, oblong to obovate, 0.7–1.2(–1.5) × 0.4–0.6(–0.8) cm; base rounded; margin ciliate; apex usually rounded, mucronate; abaxial surface pale gray-green, densely setose, scales not contiguous, dimorphic, usually golden and dark brown, nearly equal in number and intermixed; adaxial surface usually dark green, densely scaly. Inflorescence 1–3(–8)-flowered. Pedicel 0.3–0.5(–1) cm, scaly, sometimes setose; calyx rose-purple; lobes 4–7(–8) mm, oblong, elliptic or ovate, persistent in fruit, scaly, margin usually ciliate; corolla broadly funnelform, purple-pink, (1–)1.2–1.6(–1.8) cm, tube 7–8 mm, outer surface glabrous, inner surface pubescent; stamens 8–10, exserted from corolla, filaments pubescent towards base; ovary ca. 2 mm, scaly; style longer than stamens, glabrous. Capsule cylindric-ovoid, 5–6 mm, densely scaly. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jul–Sep.

Himalaya (Nepal to Bhutan), S. Tibet.

S Xizang [Bhutan, India (W Bengal), Nepal, Sikkim].

3700-5600 m

Rhododendron thickets, open scrub, alpine meadows; 3500–4800 m.