Rhododendron aiolosalpinx I. B. Balfour & Farrer; R. niphobolum I. B. Balfour & Farrer; R. stewartianum var. aiolosalpinx (I. B. Balfour & Farrer) Cowan & Davidian; R. stewartianum var. tantulum Cowan & Davidian.

Small shrubs, 1–2 m tall; young shoots glabrous. Petiole 5–10 mm, glabrous; leaf blade leathery, obovate to elliptic, broadest above middle of blade, 5.5–7.5 × 2.5–3.5 cm; base broadly cuneate or rounded; margin reflexed; apex obtuse, apiculate; abaxial surface with mammillate epidermis, thinly persistently fawn-farinose; adaxial surface green, glabrous; midrib prominent, raised abaxially; lateral veins 11–13-paired, obscure. Inflorescence 3–7-flowered; rachis conical, 1–2 mm, glabrous. Pedicel 1–1.5 cm, glandular at first, later smooth; calyx cupular; lobes 5, 5–10 mm, unequal, glabrous; corolla campanulate or tubular-campanulate, white or soft yellow to pale rose, variable in color, 3.5–4 cm; lobes 5, orbicular, ca. 1.5 × 2 cm, emarginate; stamens 10, unequal, 1.5–2.5 cm, filaments pubescent at base; ovary cylindric, ca. 4 mm, densely glandular; style ca. 2.5 cm, glabrous, stigma small. Capsule slightly curved, 20–25 × ca. 8 mm, base enclosed by persistent calyx. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Oct–Nov.

Rhododendron thickets, bamboo brakes; 3000–4000 m. E Xizang, NW Yunnan [NW Myanmar].