Volume 13 > Part 1 > Year 2015 > Page 128 > Ericaceae > Rhododendron

3. Rhododendron longiflorum var. subcordatum (Becc.) Argent

Rhododendrons of Sabah, Sabah Parks Publ. 8: 32. 1988.— R. subcordatum Becc., Malesia 1: 203. 1878; Sleumer, Reinwardtia, 5: 202. 1960; Fl. Males., Ser. I, Spermat. 6(4): 630; Argent, Rhododendrons of subgenus Vireya. 242. 2007. Plate XIII: 5–6.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Shrub to 1.5 m tall; young branches scattered with rounded and flattened scales; twig terete turning glabrous. Leaves in pseudowhorls of 5–11, elliptic, elliptic-oblong or oblanceolate, unequal in size, 2–6 by 1–3.4 cm, coriaceous, lower surface scattered with scales not overlapping; base cuneate to obtuse; margin entire with marginal glands; apex obtuse; midrib prominent beneath towards the base; veins 4–7 on each side of midrib, rather obscure; petiole 3–6 mm long, flattened and grooved above, scattered with scales. Flowers clustered on terminal branches, inflorescence 6–8-flowered; bracts linear, 1.3–2.0 cm long; pedicels 1.5–2.3 cm long, scattered with scales. Calyx a very shallow rim. Corolla tubular expanded towards the apex, 4.3–4.5 cm long, outside glabrous, scattered with scales except on the corolla-lobe margins; inside hairy in the lower part; lobes obovate, 1.8–2.0 by 1.2–1.5 cm. Filaments filiform, 3.8–4.0 cm long, hairy in lower 1/3; anthers oblong, ca 3 mm long. Ovary cylindrical, 4–5 by ca 1.5 mm, ridged, densely hairy; styles 3–3.5 cm long, hairy and scattered with scales; stigma capitate, ca 1.5 mm in diam. Capsules oblique cylindrical, 2.9–3 by ca 0.5 cm, hairy and scattered with scales.

Thailand : PENINSULAR: Yala (Tam Tho), Narathiwat (Hala Bala).

Distribution : Malesia (Borneo – type).

Ecology : In evergreen forests, ca 700 m alt. Flowering: September–October.

Vernacular : Daeng pradap pha (แดงประดับผา), kulap pha (กุหลาบผา).