察隅杜鹃 cha yu du juan

Rhododendron beanianum Cowan var. compactum Cowan.

Straggling shrubs, 1.5–2.5 m tall; young shoots tomentose. Petiole stout, 7–10 mm, tomentose; leaf blade leathery, elliptic to oblong, 4–11 × 2–5.2 cm; base rounded; apex rounded, apiculate; abaxial surface with indumentum 2-layered, upper layer thick, fulvous-tomentose, hairs dendroid, lower layer whitish, thin and appressed, midrib rufous-pubescent; adaxial surface green, rugose, glabrous when mature; midrib prominent abaxially, grooved adaxially; lateral veins 11–13-paired, impressed adaxially. Inflorescence 6–8-flowered; rachis ca. 5 mm. Pedicel 1.2–1.5 cm, tomentose; calyx 3–6 mm, irregular, glabrous; corolla tubular-campanulate fleshy crimson, 2.8–3.6 cm, with 5 darker nectar pouches at base; stamens 10, unequal; ovary densely tomentose. Capsule 14–18 × ca. 4.5 mm.

Thickets; 3900–4200 m. SE Xizang.