Flowering from June to July; fruiting from August to September.
Rhododendron wardii var. wardii is close relative of Rhododendron wardii var. puralbum, but differs from the latter in its leaf blade oblong-elliptic to broadly ovate-elliptic (vs. narrowly ovate), corolla yellow (vs. pure white).
Rhododendron wardii is occurring in SW Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan of China.
Shrubs ca. 2.5 m tall, old branches grayish white, bark sometimes flaking; young shoots greenish, glabrous. Petiole slender, furrowed above, 20-30 mm, glabrous; leaf blade leathery, oblong-elliptic to broadly ovate-elliptic, 5-7.5 cm long, 3-4.3 cm wide, base subcordate, apex obtuse, apiculate, abaxial surface greenish or grayish green, adaxial surface deep green, midrib raised abaxially, flat or slightly concave adaxially; lateral veins 9-12-paired, inconspicuous on both surfaces. Inflorescence racemose-umbellate, 5-12-flowered; rachis 5-13 mm, with short glandular hairs. Pedicel 2-4 cm, usually sparsely glandular; calyx membranous, lobes 5, 5-10 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, unequal, ovate or ovate-elliptic, margin densely glandular; corolla cup-shaped, bright yellow, 3-4 cm long, 4-5 cm wide; lobes 5, suborbicular, ca. 1.5 cm, apex emarginate; stamens 10, unequal, 1-1.5 cm, filaments glabrous; anthers ovate, yellow, ca. 2 mm; ovary cone-shaped, ca. 5 mm, densely glandular; style 1.5-2 cm, usually glandular, stigma capitate. Capsule cylindric, slightly curved, 2-2.5 cm long, ca. 7 mm wide, glandular-hairy, calyx usually persistent, leaflike at maturity.
Growing in Abies forests, Picea forests, mountain slopes, open places; 3000-4000 m.
Rhododendron wardii (黄杯杜鹃) is a rhododendron species native to southwestern Sichuan, southeastern Xizang, and northwestern Yunnan in China, where it grows at altitudes of 3,000–4,600 m (9,800–15,100 ft). This evergreen shrub grows to 3 m (9.8 ft) in height, with leathery leaves that are narrowly ovate to oblong-elliptic or broadly ovate-elliptic, 5–8 by 3–4.5 cm in size. The flowers are yellow or white.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhododendron wardii. Rhododendron wardii (黄杯杜鹃) is a rhododendron species native to southwestern Sichuan, southeastern Xizang, and northwestern Yunnan in China, where it grows at altitudes of 3,000–4,600 m (9,800–15,100 ft). This evergreen shrub grows to 3 m (9.8 ft) in height, with leathery leaves that are narrowly ovate to oblong-elliptic or broadly ovate-elliptic, 5–8 by 3–4.5 cm in size. The flowers are yellow or white.
