Rhododendron dignabile Cowan

Shrub or small tree, 0.6-4 m. Leaves 7.5-18 x 4-6.5 cm, elliptic to obovate-lanceolate, apex acute to apiculate, lower surface with a thin discontinuous one-layered brown indumentum composed of the scattered remains of hairs and glands; petioles sparsely floccose or glabrescent. Flowers 5-15, in a lax to dense truss; calyx 0.5-3 mm; corolla white to yellow, sometimes flushed pink, with or without purple flecks and/or a purple basal blotch, campanulate to funnel-campanulate, nectar pouches lacking, 25-45 mm; ovary glabrous or with a brownish red floccose indumentum that is sometimes interspersed with glands, style usually glabrous, occasionally glandular below. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  China E Tibet

Habitat 3,350-4,550 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H6

Conservation status Near threatened (NT)