Description
Rhododendron valentinianum var. oblongilobatum JN#11080 The first introduction into cultivation of the real var. oblongilobatum. These are grown from seed collected in the wild from the type location for this variety in central Yunnan. A bit different from the "var. oblongilobatum" that has been described as coming from N Vietnam (see above) but the resemblance is obvious. The latest to be introduced of an interesting group of five "species" based around the "classic" valentinianum which was collected by George Forrest on the Salween, far to the west of the location for this taxon. The others include the N Vietnamese taxon described above; valentinioides from southeastern Yunnan; and changii from further north and west near Chongqing. Beautiful, rounded and glossy leaves with hairy margins on dwarf plants. (+5\R2\5) RSBG#213sd2012