Rhododendron intranervatum Sleumer

Shrub to 1 m, usually epiphytic, also on cliffs; minutely scaly at first quickly becoming smooth and glabrescent. Leaves 9–15 × 6–11 cm, broadly elliptic, sub-ovate occasionally subcircular or sub-obovate, the apex broadly obtuse, rounded or retuse, often with a small hard recurved apiculus, margin recurved, the base cordate to auriculate; upper surface minutely and obscurely pale brown stellate-scaly, the midrib strongly raised for 1/2 to 2/3 of the length, lateral veins 10–16 pairs, strongly raised and with the lamina deeply sulcate between so that the leaves are more distinctively ‘ribbed’ than any other species; lower surface with the midrib strongly raised and the laterals deeply impressed, scales rather dense, brown-lobed to stellate with small centres. Flowers 1–5 per umbel, semi erect to horizontal; calyx a low scaly disc, corolla pale yellow, broadly funnel-shaped, glabrous outside; stamens 10, spreading all round the mouth of the flower; ovary softly white-hairy, the style glabrous. Royal Horticultural Society (1997

Distribution  Indonesia W Kalimantan Malaysia S Sarawak

Habitat 60–1,100 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H2

Conservation status Vulnerable (VU)