Rhododendron ponticum L.

Large evergreen shrub to c. 6 m high. Lvs glabrous; petiole to c. 1.5 cm long, slightly grooved above. Lamina 7–12 × 1.5–4 cm (lvs of young plants often much larger), narrow-elliptic or elliptic-obovate, coriaceous, entire, dark shining green above. Racemes short with usually < 20 fls. Bracts large, scarious, often villous on both sides, glandular-denticulate, caducous. Pedicels 2–2.5 cm long, with very short glandular hairs. Calyx 1.5–5 mm long, irregularly and deeply lobed; margin glandular-ciliolate. Corolla 3.5–4 cm long, campanulate, purple to violet, spotted brown inside on upper lobes; lobes ?-3/4 length of tube, imbricate, undulate, rounded at apex. Stamens 10; filaments 2.5–4 cm long, unequal, hairy in lower 1/2. Style > stamens, glabrous. Ovary glabrous or slightly hairy. Capsule 10–18 mm long, oblong.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–Dec.