Rhododendron taggianum Hutchinson

Shrubs, 1.5–4 m tall; young shoots densely dark brown scaly. Petiole not grooved, 10–25 mm, scaly; leaf blade leathery, oblong-lanceolate, 6–15 × 2.5–6 cm; base rounded; apex obtuse, shortly apiculate; abaxial surface dirty white, scales glandular; adaxial surface scaly on central vein; midrib raised on both surfaces. Inflorescence terminal, umbellate, 3-flowered. Pedicel ca. 2 cm, densely scaly; calyx 5-lobed to near base; lobes leaflike, 15–20 mm, broadly elliptic-ovate, scales at least at base, sparse; corolla campanulate, white, 6–9 cm, outer surface scaly at base; stamens 10, as long as corolla tube; filaments pubescent below; anthers ca. 6 mm; ovary 5-locular, densely scaly; style slightly longer than stamens. Capsule erect, lobes keeled, ca. 50 mm, densely glandular-scaly. Fl. Apr–May.

?SE Xizang, Yunnan [?NE India (Assam), NE Myanmar].

Broad-leaved forests, slopes, often epiphytic; 1800–2300 m.