Rhododendrons

Rhododendron himantodes Var. himantodes
Vireya Subgenus:
Malayovireya Section
Epithet: alluding to the narrow strap-like leaf shape.
Introduced into cultivation: in Edinburgh by Bill Burtt and Paddy Woods in 1962.
Flowers: 8-15 horizontal or semi-erect in a complete umbel, 7-12 x 20-25mm, white, with prominent brown scales
on outside of the corolla, without scent.
Flowering time not well established.
Foliage: linear, 15-120 x 2-6mm, in pseudowhorls of 12-25 or regularly spirally arranged, densely scaly.
Shrub to 2m, usually epiphytic.
Distribution (1300-2000m):
Malaysia: Sabah: Mt. Kinabalu, Mt. Trus Madi, Mt. Alab, Long Pasia; Sarawak: Mt. Mulu, Mt. Api, Mt. Murud;
Indonesia: Kalimantan: Mt. Kingkemul
It flowers regularly in cultivation, usually just once a year, and its unusual foliage and delicate flowers make it stunningly attractive, especially as it usually flowers in the depths of the UK winter.