Rhododendron discolor Franch.

Rhododendron discolor intergrades with R. fortunei, and can reliably be separated from that species only by the proportionately narrower leaves.

Shrubs or small trees, 1.5–8 m tall; branchlets stout, glabrous. Petiole stout, 15–25 mm, glabrous; leaf blade leathery, oblong-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 9.5–18 × 2.4–5.4 cm, or broader; base cuneate, rarely cordate; apex obtuse; both surfaces glabrous; abaxial surface pale yellowish green; adaxial surface dark green; midrib raised abaxially, grooved adaxially; lateral veins ca. 21-paired, obscure abaxially, impressed adaxially. Inflorescence 6–8(–10)-flowered; rachis 15–30 mm, glandular. Pedicel 2–2.5 cm, glabrous or sparsely glandular; calyx lobes 7, 2–5 mm, ovate, glandular, margin gland-fringed; corolla funnel-campanulate, pale pink to white, ca. 5.5 cm, lobes 7, suborbicular, ca. 2 × 2.5 cm, emarginate; stamens 14–16, unequal, 3–3.8 cm, filaments glabrous; ovary conoid, ca. 7 mm, densely glandular-hairy; style glandular to tip. Capsule cylindric, 40–50 × ca. 15 mm. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Sep–Oct.

Anhui, Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.

Forests; 900–1900 m.

Rhododendron discolor (喇叭杜鹃) is a rhododendron species native to many regions of China, where it grows at altitudes of 900–1,900 m (3,000–6,200 ft). It is a shrub or small tree that grows to 1.5–8 m (4.9–26.2 ft) in height, with leathery leaves that are oblong-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, and 9.5–18 × 2.4–5.4 cm in size. The flowers are pale pink to white. According to Flora of China, "Rhododendron discolor intergrades with R. fortunei, and can reliably be separated from that species only by the proportionately narrower leaves."