Rhododendron concinnum Hemsl.

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Rhododendron concinnum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-concinnum/). Accessed 2024-03-19.

Genus

Synonyms

  • Rhododendron coombense Hemsl.
  • Rhododendron yanthinum Bur. & Franch.
  • Rhododendron concinnum f. laetevirens Cowan
  • Rhododendron concinnum var. lepidanthum (Rehd. & Wils.) Rehd.
  • Rhododendron yanthinum var. lepidanthum Rehd. & Wils.
  • Rhododendron pseudoyanthinum Balf.f. ex Hutch.

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

calyx
(pl. calyces) Outer whorl of the perianth. Composed of several sepals.
corolla
The inner whorl of the perianth. Composed of free or united petals often showy.
ovary
Lowest part of the carpel containing the ovules; later developing into the fruit.
acuminate
Narrowing gradually to a point.
acute
Sharply pointed.
apex
(pl. apices) Tip. apical At the apex.
calyx
(pl. calyces) Outer whorl of the perianth. Composed of several sepals.
glabrous
Lacking hairs smooth. glabrescent Becoming hairless.
glaucous
Grey-blue often from superficial layer of wax (bloom).
obtuse
Blunt.
style
Generally an elongated structure arising from the ovary bearing the stigma at its tip.
variety
(var.) Taxonomic rank (varietas) grouping variants of a species with relatively minor differentiation in a few characters but occurring as recognisable populations. Often loosely used for rare minor variants more usefully ranked as forms.

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Rhododendron concinnum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-concinnum/). Accessed 2024-03-19.

Shrub, 0.5–2 m; young shoots scaly, otherwise glabrous. Leaves 3.5–6 × 1.8–3.2 cm, ovate to elliptic, apex acute to acuminate, upper surface scaly, hairy along midrib; lower surface covered with touching broad-rimmed scales that are golden and brown. Flowers 2–4, in a loose terminal inflorescence; calyx minute, ciliate; corolla rich reddish purple, rarely pale, zygomorphic, funnel-campanulate, 20–30 mm, outer surface of tube scaly, otherwise glabrous; stamens 10; ovary scaly, sometimes minutely pubescent at apex, impressed below the decimate style that is glabrous or puberulent. Flowering April-May. Royal Horticultural Society (1997).

Distribution  China Sichuan, Hubei, Guizhou

Habitat 2,300–4,500 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H5

Awards AM 1951 (RHS Garden, Wisley) as R. pseudoyanthinum; flowers Lilac Purple. AGM 1993 as R. concinnum Pseudoyanthinum Group.

Conservation status Least concern (LC)

An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 15 ft high; young shoots scaly. Leaves scattered along the branches, aromatic, elliptic or oblong-elliptic or broadest slightly above or below the middle, apex varying from obtuse to acute or acuminate, base rounded or broadly tapered, I to 312 in. long, 12 to 138 in. wide, dark green or glaucous green and scaly above, pale brown to dark brown beneath from the densely arranged scales; stalk up to 38 in. long. Flowers in terminal trusses of two to eight, opening in May. Calyx very variable, reduced to a rim or with five rounded or pointed lobes, scaly at least on the margin, sometimes fringed with hairs. Corolla five-lobed, widely funnel-shaped, coloured in some shade of purple or reddish purple, occasionally white, usually spotted with brown or crimson, scaly on the outside, rarely without scales, glabrous or slightly hairy towards the base. Stamens ten, hairy at the base. Ovary densely scaly; style glabrous or slightly hairy at the base. Bot. Mag., tt. 8280, 8912. (s. Triflorum ss. Yunnanense)

Native of W. Szechwan; discovered by the Rev. Ernst Faber on Mt Omei; introduced by Wilson in 1904. It is a variable species in leaf-shape, calyx, colour of flowers, etc. It is perfectly hardy but now little cultivated except for the variety previously known as R. pseudoyanthinum (see below). The following varieties are recognised by Davidian in his revision of the Triflorum series:

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

The two varieties mentioned on page 638 are not recognised by Dr Cullen. Only the second is horticulturally important and could be distinguished as R. concinnum Pseudoyanthinum group.


R amesiae Rehd. & Wils

Very closely allied to R. concinnum, the distinguishing character being the bristly leaf-stalk and the often ciliate calyx. Bot. Mag., t. 9221. It has about the same decorative value as R. concinnum but is rare in cultivation. Introduced by Wilson from W. Szechwan in 191 o, during his second expedition for the Arnold Arboretum, under W.4233 (from woodlands near Mupin).

R polylepis Franch.

Synonyms
R. harrovianum Hemsl

An inferior species allied to R. concinnum, differing in the relatively narrower leaves (up to 4 in. long and 1{1/2} in. wide), more densely scaly beneath, the scales mostly contiguous or over­lapping. Bot. Mag., t. 8309.

var. benthamianum (Hemsl.) Davidian

Synonyms
R. benthamianum Hemsl

Flowers lavender-purple. Scales of leaf-undersides dissimilar, some dark brown, others yellowish brown. Described from a plant raised by Messrs Veitch from the seeds sent by Wilson.

var. pseudoyanthinum (Hutch.) Davidian

Synonyms
R. pseudoyanthinum Hutch

Flowers deep reddish magenta. Leaves larger than normal. This was raised by Messrs Veitch from Wilson’s seeds and is figured in Bot. Mag., t. 8620, as R. concinnum. The colour of the flowers is arresting but not beautiful.