大叶金顶杜鹃 da ye jin ding du juan

Rhododendron prattii Franchet, J. Bot. (Morot) 9: 389. 1895; R. leei W. P. Fang.

Leaf blade elliptic, 7–17 × 4–7 cm, abaxially with upper layer of indumentum thin, gray-brown to fawn. Inflorescence 12–20-flowered. Corolla 4–5 cm; ovary hairy and glandular. Capsule to 25 mm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Oct.

Coniferous forest margins, Rhododendron thickets; 2800–4000 m. W Sichuan.

Field observations suggest that subsp. prattii should be treated as a distinct species. The differences mentioned above are now considered sufficient to merit the recognition of two distinct species.