Rhododendron lowndesii Davidian

Rhododendron lowndesii Davidian, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 21:99 (1952). Type: Nepal, Marsiandi valley, 13500 ft, 2 vii 1950, Lowndes 1174 (holo. BM, iso. E). Fig. 4av, p. 21.

Ic.: Stainton, Forests of Nepal t. 100 (1972); Cox, Dwarf Rhododendrons t. 18 (1973).

Small, creeping shrublet up to 25 cm. Stems loriform­-setose and filiform-acicular pubescent. Leaves deciduous, thin, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, rounded at the mucronate apex, tapered to the base, 15­-25 x 6-­11 mm, margins slightly crenate and loriform ­ciliate, upper surface dark green and filiform­ acicular pubescent, very sparsely lepidote with dried out scales, lower surface pale green, lepidote with distant, yellow scales with broad, translucent margins. Inflorescence 1­2­-flowered, pedicels 15­-20 mm, somewhat accrescent and rigid in fruit, usually loriform-­setose and sparsely lepidote. Calyx lobes oblong­ovate, rounded, greenish or reddish, sparsely lepidote, loriform and filiform-­acicular ciliate, 2­5­3­5 mm. Corolla yellow, sometimes spotted or streaked with red, 13­-15 mm, outside of the tube sparsely to densely lepidote. Ovary lepidote. Capsule cylindric, sparsely lepidote, c. 5 mm.

NEPAL. Rock crevices, ledges and peaty banks, 3800-­4550 m.