About Rhododendron kawakamii Hayata
Rhododendron kawakamii Hayata is an epiphytic shrub that grows 30 to 130 cm (12 to 51 in) tall. Its well-developed branches are often curved, with a smooth, hairless surface marked by glandular dots. The plant’s bud scales have a sharp tip and tiny cilia on their surface. Leaves measure 2.5 to 5 cm (0.98 to 1.97 in) long and 1.5 to 3 cm (0.59 to 1.18 in) wide; they are clustered, thick leathery, obovate, with a blunt or small apex. Leaf bases are acuminate to sharp, and leaf margins curve slightly backward. The upper leaf surface is dark green, smooth and hairless, while the lower leaf surface is paler. The midrib and lateral veins are depressed on the upper leaf surface and raised on the lower leaf surface. Leaf stalks are about 0.25 cm long and have wings. Inflorescences hold 2 to 5 flowers arranged in an umbrella-rib-like corymbose shape. Flower stalks are approximately 2 to 2.5 cm (0.79 to 0.98 in) long, with sparse glandular dots on the surface. The calyx is five-lobed and dish-shaped; lobes are typically irregular, with glandular dots and short cilia. The corolla is yellow, bell-shaped, and made up of five petals. Petals are about 1 cm (0.39 in) long and 1 to 1.2 cm (0.39 to 0.47 in) wide, oval in shape with glandular dots, and arranged spirally on the disk. There are generally 10 stamens of varying lengths, and pistils are slightly shorter than the stamens. Capsules are ovoid, 0.8–1.2 cm (0.31–0.47 in) long, with sparse villous hairs on the surface. This species is found only in Taiwan, with recorded locations including Taiping Mountain in Yilan, Taman Mountain in Taoyuan, the Yuanyang Lake area in Hsinchu, Luandashan in Nantou, Alishan in Chiayi, the Dagui Lake area in Kaohsiung, Wutou Mountain in Pingtung, and Mizuho Forest Road in Hualien. It grows mostly in mountain fog forests at altitudes between 1,500 and 2,500 meters, where it attaches to large trees or rock walls, including the branches of Taiwan red cypress (Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum).
