Rhododendron stapfianum Hemsl. ex Prain

Shrub to 1 m, usually epiphytic; young twigs rounded with white spreading hairs and brown scales. Leaves 4.5–5.8 × 1.2–2 cm, elliptic or narrowly elliptic, the apex obtuse to rounded, the margin entire and strongly revolute, the base rounded or broadly tapering; the upper surface hairy or scaly becoming glabrescent, the midrib raised above at the base of the leaf but then impressed for the reminder of its length, lateral veins hardly visible; the lower surface with the midrib slightly raised, the laterals obscure, with a distinct indumentum of erect, simple, white hairs and brown stellate to subdendroid scales from a smooth surface. Flowers 7–18 per umbel, erect to horizontal; calyx a low hairy ring; corolla white, sometimes sweetly scented, trumpet-shaped, 4.5–5.5 × 2–2.5 cm, rather densely hairy outside; stamens 10, irregularly spreading round the mouth of the flower; ovary densely hairy and with silvery scales, the style hairy and with silvery scales to near the top. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  Malaysia Sabah, N Sarawak and Kalimantan

Habitat 900–1,550 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H2

Conservation status Least concern (LC)