Rhododendron orbiculatum Ridl.

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New article for Trees and Shrubs Online.

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'Rhododendron orbiculatum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-orbiculatum/). Accessed 2024-03-18.

Genus

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

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New article for Trees and Shrubs Online.

Recommended citation
'Rhododendron orbiculatum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-orbiculatum/). Accessed 2024-03-18.

Shrub or small tree up to 4 m, usually epiphytic; young twigs thinly covered in small scales. Leaves 3–6.5 × 3.5–6 cm, broadly ovate to subcircular, the apex obtusely pointed or rounded, the margin entire, flat with a narrow cartilaginous edge, the base rounded to cordate; upper surface minutely and obscurely scaly at first, then glabrescent, midrib slightly impressed above, lateral veins 5–7 pairs also very slightly impressed; lower surface with the midrib slightly raised, the laterals rather indistinct, scales very small, widely spaced, rounded to lobed and with a relatively large central area. Flowers 2–6 per umbel, horizontal to half-hanging; calyx a low circular or 5-angled disc; corolla pale pink or white, sometimes slightly scented, trumpet-shaped but with enormous lobes compared with most species of this flower type, 7–8 × 7–8 cm, finely and indistinctly scaly outside; stamens 10, in a group on the lower side of the mouth of the corolla; ovary with silvery scales and very short, white hairs, style shortly hairy and with a few scales in the lower half, glabrous in the upper part. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  BruneiMalaysia Sabah, Northern Sarawak

Habitat 800–1,800 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H2

Conservation status Least concern (LC)

This species was confused with R. suaveolens but it is clearly distinct with its shorter leaves and much broader flowers (see D.R. Hunt, The Botanical Magazine 1970, 178 tab. 575). Royal Horticultural Society (1997)