Rhododendron selense

Rhododendron selense (多变杜鹃) is a rhododendron species native to southwestern Sichuan, eastern Xizang, and western Yunnan in China, where it grows at altitudes of 2,700–4,000 m (8,900–13,100 ft). It is an evergreen shrub that grows to 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) in height, with leaves that are oblong-elliptic or obovate to elliptic, 4–8 by 2–4 cm in size. The flowers are pink.

Rhododendron selense
Rhododendron selense ssp. jucundum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Rhododendron
Species:	R. selense
Binomial name
Rhododendron selense Franch.
Subspecies
See text.
Synonyms
Of R. selense subsp. dasycladum:[1] Rhododendron dasycladum Balf.f. & W.W.Sm. Rhododendron dolerum Balf.f. & Forrest Rhododendron rhaibocarpum Balf.f. & W.W.Sm. Of R. selense subsp. jucundum:[2] Rhododendron jucundum Balf.f. & W.W.Sm. Rhododendron blandulum Balf.f. & W.W.Sm. Of R. selense subsp. selense:[3] Rhododendron axium Balf.f. & Forrest Rhododendron chalarocladum Balf.f. & Forrest Rhododendron metrium Forrest Rhododendron nanothamnum Balf.f. & Forrest Rhododendron pagophyllum Balf.f. & Kingdon-Ward Rhododendron probum Balf.f. & Forrest

It is best seen in its native habitat, where many thousands of plants can be seen flowering during April and May. In cultivation it takes several years to flower.^[4]

Taxonomy

Rhododendron selense was first described by Adrien René Franchet in 1898.^[5]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized:^[5]

• Rhododendron selense subsp. dasycladum (Balf.f. & W.W.Sm.) D.F.Chamb.
• Rhododendron selense subsp. jucundum (Balf.f. & W.W.Sm.) D.F.Chamb.
• Rhododendron selense subsp. selense

Conservation

In 1998, Rhododendron dasycladum was assessed as "vulnerable" and said to be an endemic of a single mountain in Yunnan, China.^[6] As of February 2023^[update], this species is regarded one of the synonyms of Rh. selense subsp. dasycladum, which has a much wider distribution in eastern Tibet, southwestern Sichuan and northwestern Yunnan.^[1]