Rhododendron fulgens Hook. fil.

Shrubs, 1.5–4 m tall; young shoots and petioles glabrous. Petiole 10–25 mm; leaf blade leathery, oblong-ovate to obovate, 6–11 × 4.5–7 cm; base rounded or slightly cordate; apex rounded, apiculate; abaxial surface densely fulvous woolly, hairs fasciculate; adaxial surface glossy, glabrous. Inflorescence compactly racemose-umbellate, 8–14-flowered; rachis 10–20 mm. Pedicel ca. 1 cm, glabrous; calyx red, 1–2 mm, glabrous; corolla tubular-campanulate, fleshy, scarlet to blood-red, unspotted, 2–3.5 cm, with 5 dark red nectar pouches at base inside; lobes 5; stamens unequal, 1–2.2 cm, filaments white, or tinted pink at base, glabrous; ovary conical, 4–5 mm, glabrous; style slightly curved upwards, tinted pink, 1.5–1.7 cm, glabrous. Capsule narrowly elongate-cylindric, slightly curved, 5-valved, 10–30 × 4–8 mm. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Aug.

E. Himalaya (E. Nepal to Bhutan), S. Tibet, N. Assam.

S Xizang [Bhutan, NE India, Nepal, Sikkim].

3300-4100 m

Rhododendron thickets, mountains; 3700–4500 m.

Rhododendron fulgens (猩红杜鹃) is a rhododendron species native to Bhutan, northeast India, Nepal, Sikkim, and southern Xizang in China, where it grows at altitudes of 3700–4500 meters. It is a shrub that grows to 1.5–4 m in height, with leathery leaves that are oblong-ovate to obovate, 6–11 by 4.5–7 cm in size. Flowers are red.

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