Rhododendron praeteritum Hutch.

Shrubs; young shoots green, sparsely tomentose. Petiole stout, 10–20 mm, floccose at first, soon glabrous; leaf blade leathery, obovate-oblong to oblong-elliptic, 6.5–8.5 × 3.1–4.5 cm; base rounded or truncate; margin revolute; apex obtuse or rounded, apiculate; abaxial surface pale green, glabrous at maturity except for sparse loose hairs on the prominent midrib; adaxial surface deep green, slightly rugose, midrib grooved adaxially, lateral veins 12–16-paired, glabrous. Inflorescence racemose-umbellate, 7–10-flowered; rachis ca. 15 mm, puberulent. Pedicel 1.8–2 cm, pubescent when young, soon glabrous; calyx 1–1.4 mm, glabrous outside; corolla open-campanulate, pale pink, with purple flecks, 2–4 cm, 5 nectar pouches at base; stamens 10, unequal, 1.2–3.5 cm, filaments pubescent at base; ovary ovoid, ca. 4 × 2.5 mm, glabrous or hirsute; style ca. 1.2 cm, glabrous; stigma capitate, small, oblong-ovoid, ca. 1.5 cm. Fl. May, fr. Sep.

W Gansu, W Hubei, SW Hunan, E Qinghai.

Forests, thickets; 1800–3300 m.