Rhododendron inconspicuum J.J. Sm.

Shrubs to 3 m or more rarely trees to 10 m, mostly terrestrial; young stems densely covered with scurfy brown scales some of these from epidermal tubercles. Leaves 1.5–2.5 × 0.8–1.7 cm, ovate to elliptic or broadly elliptic, the apex obtuse to rounded, the margin entire and flat, the base broadly tapering to rounded; the upper surface at first silvery-scaly, quickly glabrescent, midrib slightly impressed, lateral veins 3–6 pairs very slightly impressed; lower surface with the midrib slightly raised, lateral veins not raised but quite distinct in being darker in colour than the surrounding tissue, scales pale silvery brown rounded to deeply lobed and with small centres and each impressed in a low pit. Flowers in 1–7 flowered umbels, horizontal to half-hanging; calyx a densely scaly lobed disc; corolla pink to red, campanulate or shortly cylindrical, 1.3–1.8 × 0.8–1.7 cm, quite densely pale brown-scaly outside; stamens 10, spreading all round the mouth of the flower; ovary densely silvery scaly, the scales stopping rather abruptly at the junction with the glabrous style. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  Indonesia Widespread throughout the highlands of New Guinea Papua New Guinea

Habitat 1,800–3,400 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H2

Conservation status Least concern (LC)