Rhododendron scabrifolium Franch.

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Credits

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

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

Genus

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.
included
(botanical) Contained within another part or organ.
indumentum
A covering of hairs or scales.
lanceolate
Lance-shaped; broadest in middle tapering to point.
midrib
midveinCentral and principal vein in a leaf.
ovate
Egg-shaped; broadest towards the stem.
style
Generally an elongated structure arising from the ovary bearing the stigma at its tip.

Credits

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

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

Shrub, to 3 m; young shoots with dimorphic indumentum composed of filiform hairs and setae with swollen bases. Leaves 1.5–9 × 0.4–2.5 cm, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, upper surface with indumentum as for young shoots, bullate, lower surface scaly and densely covered with setae with swollen bases. Flowers 2–3(–5), in a loose axillary terminal inflorescence; calyx rim-like or with lobes 2–3 mm, ciliate; corolla white to deep pink, 9–23 mm; stamens 10; ovary scaly and densely pilose, impressed below the decimate style that is pilose at base. Flowering March-May. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  China Yunnan, Guizhou

Habitat 1,800–3,000 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H4

Conservation status Data deficient (DD)

An evergreen shrub of thin, lanky habit, 6 to 8 ft high, young shoots slender but rather rigid, clothed with pale wool and long hairs. Leaves distributed along the branchlets, narrowly oval to oblong-lanceolate, pointed, tapered at the base, 112 to 312 in. long, 34 to 1 in. wide, dark green and with stiff short hairs above; paler, scaly, and hairy beneath especially on the prominent midrib and veins; stalk 18 to 14 in. long. Flowers produced in March or April from several of the axils of the terminal leaves in two- to four-flowered umbels, the whole forming a many-flowered cluster 3 or 4 in. wide. Calyx hairy and scaly, 18 in. long, with five deep, pointed lobes. Corolla white or pale pink, 114 in. wide, with a short tube and five ovate, blunt, spreading lobes 12 in. long. Stamens ten, with pink stalks 12 in. long, downy at the base. Ovary scaly and clothed with short, whitish hairs; style 34 in. long, hairy towards the base. Bot. Mag., 7159. (s. Scabrifolium)

Native of Yunnan, China; discovered by Delavay in 1883, introduced to the Jardin des Plantes at Paris in 1885, whence plants were sent to Kew in 1888 that flowered two years later. It is an interesting and (in its clothing of stiff hairs and flatly open flowers) a distinct species, but not one of the more attractive ones. It was rediscovered and introduced in 1913 by Forrest, who found it in other parts of Yunnan in open situations up to 11,000 ft. It is, however rather tender. Its nearest ally is R. spicijerum, which has a similar indumentum on its stems and leaves, but much smaller leaves.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

var. spiciferum (Franch.) Cullen R. spiciferum Franch. – According to Dr Cullen, this has all the essential characters of R. scabrifolium, differing in its more narrowly funnel-shaped corollas and narrower leaves. A native of central and southern Yunnan, possibly extending into Kweichow. In 1964 Mr Davidian included in R. spiciferum the very similar R. pubescens (q.v. in this supplement) and it may be that some plants of the latter are now under the label R. spiciferum. The origin of the plants grown as R. spiciferum before that date is uncertain (there is no record of its having been collected by Forrest). Most probably they were raised from seeds gathered by Chinese collectors, who were employed after Forrest’s death by the Hon. H. D. McClaren (the second Lord Aberconway).

R. scabrifolium var. spiciferum is less hardy than the more northern R. pubescens.


var. scabrifolium

Leaves 4–9 × 1–1.8cm; corolla openly funnel-shaped, 9–15mm, tube 3–7mm.

Habitat 1,800–3,000m.


var. spiciferum (Franch.) Cullen

Leaves 1.5–3.0 × 0.4–1cm; Corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, 13–15mm, tube 6–8mm.

Habitat 2,000–2,500m.

The bullate leaves will distinguish this species from its immediate relatives. Var. pauciflorum, which is probably not in cultivation, differs in its larger flowers, 16–23mm long, and larger leaves, 25–90 × 8–25mm.