Rhododendron loranthiflorum Sleumer

Conservation International Lakekamu RAP survey
Lae National Herbarium
11503 Ericacaceae
Rhododendron loranthiflorum Sleumer
keys to this result on Sleumer; first record for the PNG
mainland; previously known from Bismark Archipelago and Solomons
Gulf Province; Lakekamu; east branch of the Avi Avi River, trail past
the research house; elev. 575’ aneroid (175 m) in natural-growth
foothill forest; colls, centered on coordinates 7° 44' lat. x 146° 29.5’
long.
exsiccatae sequence 11494-11507; epiphytic shrub in canopy; twigs
gnarly, pale brown; leaves indistinctly reticulate, coriaceous or firm,
adaxially dark green, abaxially yellow-green, underleaf pitted, the
scales orange-brown, impressed, orbicular with irregular margins;
flowers terminal; peduncle red; corolla to 3 cm long, narrowly tubular,
white, exclusively lepidote on the outside, the scales thick and
rounded; anthers 2 mm long, not basally appendiculate; entire
gynoecium yellow-green, ovary lepidote and patently hairy; fruits
linear, orange-brown, 55 mm x 3 mm, stigma (on fruit) discoid, 5-
lobulate.
flowers bottled.
collection: W. Takeuchi & J. Kulang11,503
det.: WT; 1/98
coll. date: Oct. 31, 1996
04395006