Rhododendron stenophyllum Hook.f. ex Stapf

Shrub to 3 m, usually terrestrial; young stems smooth and very finely scaly. Leaves 4–7 × 0.14–0.5 cm, linear, the apex acute, the margin entire and flat, the base narrowly tapering; upper surface with small fine scales at first quickly becoming glabrescent, midrib a little impressed above, the lateral veins up to 7 pairs but obscure; lower surface with the midrib smooth and laterals obscure, the scales sparsely distributed, substellate with small centres. Flowers 1–5 per umbel, held horizontally or half hanging; calyx a low scaly ring; corolla opening orange but turning red with age, campanulate, 2.5–3.5 × 3–4.5 cm, glabrous outside; stamens 10, slightly dimorphic, arranged all round the mouth of the flower; ovary densely white hairy, style glabrous. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  Brunei Indonesia Sabah and Northern Sarawak

Habitat 1,500–2,400 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H2

Conservation status Least concern (LC)