Rhododendrons

Rhododendron stenophyllum Ssp. stenophyllum
Vireya Subgenus:
Euvireya Section:
Euvireya Subsection
Epithet: narrow leaf.
It was first collected by Sir Hugh Low in 1867 on his epic climb of Mt Kinabalu. However, the first known record of its cultivation was from a collection made by Sheila Collenette in 1979, who introduced living plants to Edinburgh.
Flowers: 1-3, flowers held stiffly horizontally or slightly angled downwards, 30-35 x 10-14mm, bell-shaped, bright waxy orange to red, without scent, tube 22 x 13 x 16 mm.
Jan - Dec, most abundant Feb - Jun.
Foliage: linear, 40-70 x 2.5-5 mm, 10-15 together in pseudowhorls, dark-green.
Shrub to 3m, mostly terrestrial.
Distribution (2700-2800m):
Malaysia: Borneo: Sabah, Mt Kinabalu.
This subspecies is very easy to recognise with its very narrow, linear, dark-green, sparsely scaly leaves and waxy orange to red flowers.