Rhododendron campanulatum D. Don

Foodplant / sap sucker
nymph of Stephanitis rhododendri sucks sap of Rhododendron campanulatum
Other: major host/prey

Shrubs, 1–4.5 m tall; young shoots ca. 5 mm in diam., glabrous. Petiole 15–20 mm, initially tomentose, later glabrescent; leaf blade leathery, broadly elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 5–15 × 3–6 cm; base rounded, obtuse or semicordate; apex obtuse or rounded, mucronate; abaxial surface yellowish, fulvous, rust-brown or rust-yellow, indumentum thin or thickly felted; adaxial surface with or without metallic luster when young. Inflorescence racemose-umbellate, 8–12-flowered; rachis 20–30 mm. Pedicel 1.5–3.5 cm, glabrous; calyx 1–2 mm, glabrous; corolla broadly campanulate, white to pale rose or lilac to purple, upper interior ± purple-spotted, 3.5–4 cm, lobes 5; stamens 10, unequal, filaments pubescent at base; ovary ca. 7 mm, glabrous; style ca. 2.8 cm, glabrous, stigma slightly lobulate. Capsule slightly curved, 20–30 × 4–5 mm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Jul–Sep.

Gregarious, evergreen shrubs, up to 2.5 m tall. Leaves 5-10 cm long, 2.5-5 cm broad, elliptic to oblong, apiculate, dorsal side glabrous, coriaceous, ventral brown tomentose. Flowers in loose terminal clusters. Bracts 1-1.5 cm long, oblong; pedicel 1.5-2.3 cm long. Calyx lobes minute, sub-ovate. Corolla light purple, campanulate, 2.5-3 cm long. Stamens 10; filaments long, glabrous. Ovary 5-9-locular, glabrous. Capsule cylindrical, curved, 2-3 cm long.

S Xizang [Bhutan, N India, Kashmir, Nepal, Sikkim].

Distribution: Common and gregarious from 3000 to 4000 m from Kashmir to Bhutan in the inner and the outer ranges. To be expected in West Pakistan.

Fl. Per. May June.

Forests, thickets, mountain slopes; 3100–4300 m.

Rhododendron campanulatum, the bell-flowered rhododendron or bell rhododendron, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to the Himalayas and Tibet. It is the state flower of Himachal Pradesh. It is an evergreen shrub to a small tree. Leaves are ovate or broadly elliptic. Flowers bloom from April-May and are white to lavender in color.