Rhododendron boothii Nutt.

Shrubs, evergreen, usually epiphytic, 1.5–2.5(–3) m tall; branchlets scaly, densely setose. Petiole 6–10 mm, scaly, setose; leaf blade thick and leathery, ovate, narrowly ovate to ovate-elliptic, 7–13 × 3–7 cm; base rounded or obtuse; margin ciliate; apex acuminate or acute; abaxial surface pale glaucous-green, scales ca. 1 × their own diameter apart, unequal, dark brown; adaxial surface green, somewhat shiny, without scales, setose on midrib and veins. Inflorescence (3–)7–10-flowered. Pedicel 1.3–2 cm, setose; calyx green; lobes (7–)10–15 mm, rounded, ovate to oblong, persisting to enclose mature capsule, scaly, margin ciliate; corolla broadly campanulate, bright yellow, sometimes spotted, ca. 3 cm, tube 15–17 mm, outer surface scaly, inner surface pilose, lobes spreading, rounded; stamens 10, filaments pubescent towards base for 1/3–1/2 of their length; ovary densely scaly; style stout, sharply bent, short, scaly at base. Capsule ovoid or ovoid-cylindric, 10–17 mm, scaly. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jun–Jul.

SE Xizang [NE India].

Forests, scrub, rocks, sometimes epiphytic; 2000–2500 m.