A new synonym of Rhododendron leishanicum (subg. Hymenanthes) from China (Ericaceae) Author Chen, Sheng 0000-0002-2727-6504 Institute of Biology, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550009, Guizhou, China Author Hao, Lei https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0276-6523 Institute of Biology, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550009, Guizhou, China Author Deng, Yi-Hui https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2821-0247 Liuzhou Forestry Research Institute, Rongshui 545300, Guangxi, China Author Yang, Cheng-Hua 0000-0002-5941-676X Guizhou Academy of Forestry, Guiyang 550005, Guizhou, China Author Yuan, Jun-Mei https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1861-5790 Institute of Biology, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550009, Guizhou, China Author Lou, Jia-Xin https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0276-6523 Institute of Biology, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550009, Guizhou, China Author He, Yun-Song https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8791-558X Institute of Biology, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550009, Guizhou, China Author Chen, Xiang https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0773-4978 Institute of Biology, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550009, Guizhou, China text PhytoKeys 2024 2024-06-14 243 9 14 journal article 298475 10.3897/phytokeys.243.121263 0e55ac52-8ac1-43a4-8bae-8c44c0c83094 PMC11193047 38912087 Rhododendron oligocarpum W. P. Fang & S. S. Chang syn. nov. Type. China . Guizhou province : Yinjiang county , Sanduodian , 2070 m elev, 14 april 1964 , Z. S. Zhang et al. 401557 ( holotype : HGAS 0088928 !; isotypes : IBSC 0481928 !; PE 01297915 !, PE 01297916 !; paratype : HGAS 007915 !; IBK 00187538 !, IBK 00187539 !, IBK 00187541 !, IBK 00187559 !; PE 00312607 !, PE 00313389 !; KUN 540382 !; SZ 0036179 !) . Description. Shrubs or small trees, 3–6 m tall; bark grey, dehiscent on drying; branchlets terete, setose when young, gradually glabrescent. Petiole rounded abaxially, furrowed adaxially, 5–15 mm , densely setose; leaf blade leathery, elliptic or obovate, 4–8 × 2–4 cm ; base rounded or subcordate; margin revolute, apex rounded, with small apiculate; adaxial surface green, abaxial surface pistachio; mid-rib impressed abaxially, grooved adaxially, glabrous or sometimes sparsely hairy; lateral veins 11–15 - paired, slightly conspicuous on both surfaces. Inflorescence racemose-umbellate, 3–5 - flowered; rachis 5–7 mm , tomentose. Pedicel 1–2 cm , densely setose-tomentose; Calyx small, discoid, lobes 5, triangular, tomentose, 1–2 mm . Corolla campanulate, purple-red to rose-red, with deep purple basal spots, 3–3.5 cm ; lobes 5, suborbicular, ca. 1.5 × 2 cm , apex emarginate; stamens 10, unequal, 1–3 cm , filaments puberulent at base; ovary cone-shaped, 4–5 mm , densely densely setose and tomentose; style 2.5–3 cm , glabrous, stigma slightly expanded. Capsule cylindrical, 20–25 × 7 mm , rough. Flowering from April to May and fruiting from September to October. Distribution and habitat. Rhododendron leishanicum is distributed in Eastern Guizhou and North-eastern Guangxi . It grows in Thickets at 1800–2500 m a. s. l. Specimens examined. China . Guizhou : Qiandongnan Prefecture , Leigong Mountain , P. L. Song 1016 ( GYBG barcode 0002282, 0002283), 4407 ( CCNU barcode 9018123), 4717 ( CCNU barcode 9018122) ; Tongren City , Fanjing Mountain , Z. S. Zhang et al. 401673 ( IBSC barcode 0481934), 401317 ( HGAS barcode 0088940, IBSC barcode 0481929), 400681 ( HGAS barcode 0088933), 400610 ( HGAS barcode 0088939), Z. P. Jian 32039 ( HGAS barcode 0088938), Wuling Mountain Expedition 731 ( GFS barcode 0007355, KUN barcode 0339467, 0339468, PE barcode 00258535), 1348 ( GFS barcode 0007356, KUN barcode 0339469) . Guangxi : Guilin City , Maoer Mountain , G. Z. Li 11272 ( IBK barcode 00187540), 12378 ( IBK barcode 00187542), 12084 ( IBK barcode 00187561), F. X. Jin 1066 ( HTC barcode 0010523, 0010524, 0010525), J. X. Zhong 83311 ( IBK barcode 00187551, 00187552, IBSC barcode 0481913), 83523 ( IBK barcode 00187560), 81647 ( IBK barcode 00187566, 00187567), L. M. Gao 20077 ( KUN barcode 0767388, 0767389) .