Rhododendron impeditum I. B. Balf. & W. W. Smith

Small, much-branched, compact shrubs, usually forming cushions, 0.8(–1.2) m tall. Petiole 1–3 mm, scaly; leaf blade ovate, elliptic or broadly elliptic to oblong, (0.4–)0.5–1.4(–1.6) × (0.25–)0.3–0.6(–0.8) cm; base broadly cuneate; apex acute or obtuse, mucronulate; abaxial surface pale gray-green, scales markedly to slightly spaced, usually uniformly rusty or amber; shiny; adaxial surface dark green, sparsely scaly, pale. Inflorescence (2–)3- or 4-flowered. Pedicel 1–3 cm, scaly; calyx lobes 2.5–4 mm, oblong, persistent in fruit, scales present, forming a sparse central band, ciliate; corolla broadly funnelform, purple, violet or rose-lavender, rarely white, (0.7–)0.8–1.5 cm, tube (2–)3–6 mm, outer surface usually sparsely scaly, rarely also pubescent, inner surface pubescent; stamens (5–) 10(or 11), filaments pubescent towards base; ovary 1.5–2.5 mm, scaly; style very variable, longer or shorter than stamens, glabrous or puberulous at base. Capsule ovoid, 4–6 mm, densely scaly. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct.

SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.

Mixed thickets, Rhododendron thickets, alpine meadows, open slopes; 2500–4600 m.

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Rhododendron impeditum (粉紫杜鹃), the dwarf purple rhododendron, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to southwestern Sichuan and northwest Yunnan in China, where it grows at altitudes of 2,500–4,600 m (8,200–15,100 ft). This compact evergreen shrub grows to 60 cm (24 in) tall and broad. The leaves are ovate, elliptic or broadly elliptic to oblong, 0.5–1.4 by 0.3–0.6 cm in size. The flowers are purple, violet, or rose-lavender, or rarely white.