Rhododendron hookeri Nutt.

Shrubs or small trees, 1–4 m tall; young shoots glaucous becoming green, with a waxy farina, glabrous. Petiole cylindric, 15–20 mm, glabrous; leaf blade leathery, oblong-elliptic or obovate-elliptic, 8–12.5 × 3–5 cm; base rounded; apex obtuse or apiculate; abaxial surface glaucous, glabrous except for lateral veins with well-developed fasciculate hairs; adaxial surface green, glabrous; midrib prominently raised abaxially, flat adaxially; lateral veins 11–13-paired, slightly raised abaxially. Inflorescence racemose-umbellate, 10–15-flowered; rachis 10–25 mm, glabrous. Pedicel slender, 1–1.5 cm, glabrous; calyx membranous, pink; lobes 5, 5–7 mm, unequal in size, suborbicular, glabrous; corolla campanulate or tubular-campanulate, deep rose to crimson, 3.5–4 cm, base with 5 dark nectar pouches; lobes 5, suborbicular, emarginate; stamens 9 or 10, unequal, 2.5–3.5 cm, filaments glabrous; ovary cylindric-oval, ca. 5 mm; style glabrous. Capsule 20–25 mm, base enclosed by persistent calyx. Fl. Mar, fr. Jun.

SE Xizang [NE India].

Thickets, S-facing mountain slopes; 2200–3000 m.