Rhododendron lepidotum [Wallich ex] G. Don, Gen. Hist. Dichlam. PI. 3:845 (1834). Type: Nepal, Gossainthan, Wallich (holo. K, iso. E).
Syn.: R. elaeagnoides Hooker, Rhodo. Sikkim Himalaya t. 23 (1849). Type: mountains of Sikkim Himalaya, 14-15000ft, Hooker (holo. K, iso. E).
R. obovatum Hooker, op. cit., consp. 6. Type: Sikkim Himalaya, Lachoong Valley, 12000 ft, Hooker (holo. K, iso. E).
R. salignum Hooker, op. cit.t. 23A.Type: Sikkim Himalaya, above Choongtam, 7000 ft, Hooker (holo. K, iso. E).
R. sinolepidotum Balfour f., Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 10:155 (1917). Type: China, Yunnan, Likiang, Delavay 18 (holo. E).
R. cremnastes Balfour f. & Farrer, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 13:253 (1922). Type: NE Upper Burma, Chimili, 11000 ft, Farrer 1196 (holo. E).
Ic.: Royle, 111. Bot. Himal. t.64 (1839); Bot. Mag. 78: t.4657 (1852) & 80: t. 4802 (1854); Schneider, 111. Handb. Laubh. 2:479 (1909); Millais, Rhododendrons, opp. p. 146 (1917); Ic. Corm. Sin. 3: t. 4010 (1974).
Small, evergreen shrub to 2 m. Young shoots densely lepidote. Leaves narrowly elliptic, obovate or rarely lanceolate, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, (6-)10-24(-30) x (3-)4-12(-16) mm, dark green and usually densely lepidote with variably persistent scales above, pale greyish green beneath with distant to overlapping, large, brownish scales with translucent rims. Inflorescences 12-flowered, pedicels lepidote, (10-) 12-25 mm. Calyx lobes variable in shape, ovate or oblong, rarely spathulate, rounded, (2-) 3-4 mm, greenish or reddish, lepidote. Corolla white, yellow, pink, red or various shades of purple, often spotted darker, (10-) 12-15(-17) mm, tube to 7 (-8) mm, usually densely lepidote outside. Ovary lepidote. Style very short, deflexed. Capsule lepidote, ± cylindric, 4-6 mm.
INDIA (Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal & Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, W Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh), NEPAL, BHUTAN, NE BURMA, CHINA (NW & NW Yunnan, S & SE Xizang). Moorland, slopes, open forest, 2450-4550 m.
A very widespread and variable species. Leaf size and shape are particularly variable, and a number of segregates have been described on the basis of these characters: Rhododendron obovatum with large, obovate leaves, Rhododendron elaeagnoides with small, elliptic leaves, and Rhododendron salignum with long, narrow leaves. Hooker was uncertain about their distinctness when he described them, and the copious material now available shows that the various forms are linked by numerous intermediates and that the variability follows no geographical pattern, nor does it correlate with the equally wide variation in corolla color.
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