Rhododendron capitatum Maxim.

Small shrubs, 0.5–(1.5) m tall; bud scales deciduous. Petiole 2–3 mm, scaly; leaf blade elliptic or oblong-elliptic, (0.7–) 1–1.8(–2.4) × (0.3–)0.5–1 cm; base broadly cuneate; apex rounded, not mucronate; abaxial surface pale brown, scales contiguous to slightly separated, 2-colored, pale yellow and dark brown or tan to dark amber, nearly equal in number and intermixed; adaxial surface pale or olive green, densely scaly. Inflorescence 2–5(–8)-flowered. Pedicel 1–3 cm, scaly; calyx yellowish, lobes 3–6 mm, oblong or ovate, unequal, persistent in fruit, pilose or scaly at base, margin ciliate; corolla broadly funnelform, pale purple to deep purple or bluish purple, (1–) 1.3–1.5(–1.7) cm, tube 3–5 mm, outer surface not scaly; throat pubescent; stamens 10, exserted, filaments pubescent towards base; ovary ca. 2 mm, scaly, pubescent; style slightly longer than stamens, occasionally pubescent towards base. Capsule ovoid, 3.5–6 mm, scaly, pubescent. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Jul–Sep.

Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, NW Sichuan.

Moist grasslands, alpine meadows, rocky slopes; 2500–4300 m.