Rhododendron citriniflorum Balf.f. & Forrest

Dwarf shrub, 0.2–1.5 m. Leaves 4–7.5 × 1.5–2.3 cm, obovate to elliptic, lower surface densely covered with a thick grey-brown tomentum composed of ramiform hairs; petioles often winged, glabrous or with a white floccose tomentum when mature. Flowers 2–6, in a tight truss; calyx 2–12 mm, when well-developed cupular; corolla not fleshy, yellow or orange to carmine, tubular-campanulate, with nectar pouches, 32–45 mm; ovary stalked-glandular, abruptly contracted into the glabrous style. Flowering April-May. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  China SE Tibet, NW Yunnan

Habitat 4,000–4,600 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H5

Conservation status Vulnerable (VU)

Taxonomic note R. citriniflorum hybridizes with R. sanguineum and probably also R. temenium (q.v.); from both it may be distinguished by its thick tomentose leaf indumentum. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

A dwarf evergreen shrub 2 to 4 ft high, with obovate or oblong leaves tapering to the base, 11⁄2 to 31⁄2 in. long, 1⁄2 to 11⁄2 in. wide, densely clothed beneath with loose tawny wool. Flowers opening in April or early May in clusters of six to eight; stalks clad with tawny bristles. Calyx variable in size. Corolla typically clear, unspotted, lemon-yellow, but sometimes rose-coloured, or in intermediate shades, bell-shaped, 13⁄4 in. long, five-lobed. Stamens ten, downy at the base or glabrous. Ovary matted with tawny hairs and glandular bristly; style glabrous. (s. Neriiflorum ss. Sanguineum)

This variable species resembles R. sanguineum in the shape and texture of its leaves, but they differ markedly in their thick indumentum of matted hairs. It was described from specimens collected by Forrest on the Mekong-Salween divide, N.W. Yunnan, and introduced by him. Although the flowers were said in the original description to be lemon-yellow, the authors cite Forrest’s 14271, in which the flowers were described in the field note as ‘soft rose without markings’. The species also occurs in S.E. Tibet (Tsarong) on the Salween-Irrawaddy divide.

The following subspecies are placed under R. citriniflorum by Cowan (Notes R.B.G. Edin., Vol. 20, p. 75).

subsp. aureolum Cowan – Ovary without glands. Otherwise not differing from the type.

subsp. horaeum (Balf. f. & Forr.) Cowan R. horaeum Balf. f. & Forr. – Resembling the type in foliage, but flowers deep crimson. Ovary tomentose, without glands. Introduced by Forrest from S.E. Tibet (Tsarong), later by Rock. The subsp. rubens Cowan is the same, but the ovary is glandular as well as tomentose.

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