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New article for Trees and Shrubs Online.
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'Rhododendron armitii' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
Shrub to 2 m, terrestrial, young twigs slightly scaly at first with stellate scales Leaves 7–10 × 4–6 cm, broadly elliptic to sub-obovate, the apex obtuse or very shortly attenuate in a deflexed glandular mucro, the margin flat or slightly revolute, the base broadly attenuate, rounded or slightly cordate; the upper surface at first scaly, quickly glabrescent, the midrib impressed, lateral veins 8–10 pairs, slightly impressed; lower surface with the midrib strongly raised, the laterals slightly prominent; scales moderately dense, rusty brown, and deeply incised. Flowers 3–7 per umbel, horizontal to half-hanging; calyx with 5 distinct but low lobes, both hairy and scaly; corolla white flushed with pink, beautifully scented, trumpet-shaped but with the tube slightly curved, 6–8 × 3–4 cm, slightly scaly outside; stamens 10, clustered in the mouth of the flower; ovary densely covered in yellowish to whitish, subappressed hairs which tend to obscure the presence of the scales, style hairy and scaly in the lower half, glabrous above. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)
Distribution Papua New Guinea Owen Stanley Mountains (Mt Simpson and Mt Dayman)
Habitat 2,400–2,700
RHS Hardiness Rating H2
Conservation status Least concern (LC)
A lovely and free flowering plant introduced by P. Woods close to R. tuba but with larger leaves. See also remarks under that species. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)