Rhododendron luraluense Sleumer

Shrub or small tree up to 9 m, epiphytic or terrestrial; young stems at first with fine brown scales, quickly glabrescent. Leaves 4–6.5 × 1.8–2.8 cm, elliptic to elliptic-spathulate, the apex obtuse or broadly acute sometimes submucronate, the margin flat and smooth, the base tapering; the upper surface smooth with only very fine scales at first, the midrib very slightly impressed, the lateral veins 3–5 pairs, smooth or minutely raised; the lower surface with the midrib raised below in the lower half, the laterals faint and often obscure, the scales well spaced, rounded to somewhat lobed and impressed in small pits. Flowers 3–6 per umbel, semi-erect; calyx a low slightly scaly disc; corolla white, funnel-shaped, 3–4.5 × 2.5–3 cm, slightly scaly on the tube outside; stamens 10, scattered round the mouth of the flower; ovary hairy and obscurely scaly, style hairy and scaly in the lower glabrous above. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands only Solomon Islands Guadalcanal (Mt Gallego)

Habitat 900–1,500 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H2

Conservation status Vulnerable (VU)