• Scientific Name: Rhododendron aureum Georgi
• Ref: Bemerk. Reise Russ. Reich 1:214. 1775
• Synonyms: Azalea chrysantha (Pall.) Kuntze, Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall., R. flavum Pall., R. niko-montanum (Komatsu) Nakai, R. officinale Salisb.
• English Common Name: golden-flowered rhododendron
• Chinese Common Name: 牛皮杜鹃 niúpí dùjuān, 牛皮茶 niúpí∙chá
• Japanese Common Name: キバナシャクナゲ [黄花石楠花] kibanashakunage
• Family: Ericaceae
• Genus: Rhododendron
• Distribution: Grasslands, among bryophytes, alpine regions; 1000–2500 m. SE Jilin, Liaoning [Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia].
• Photo: 07/22/2010, Mt. Changbai, Jilin

Dwarf shrubs, 0.1–1 m tall; stems horizontal with obliquely ascending branchlets; bud scales persistent. Petiole 5–10 mm, glabrous; leaf blade leathery, oblanceolate to obovate-oblong, 2.5–8 × 1–3.5 cm; base cuneate; apex obtuse or rounded, mucronate; both surfaces glabrous when mature, sometimes with vestiges of juvenile tomentum abaxially; reticulate veins distinct. Inflorescence corymbose, 5–8-flowered; rachis ca. 10 mm. Pedicel erect, ca. 3 cm, sparsely rufescent-hairy; calyx lobes 5, ca. 2 mm, floccose; corolla campanulate, yellow, with 1 upper lobe red-spotted, 2.5–3 cm; lobes 5, unequal; stamens 10, unequal, filaments pubescent at base; ovary ca. 5 mm, densely rufous-tomentose; style ca. 2.5 cm, glabrous, stigma small, 5-lobulate. Infructescence erect; peduncle 4.5–6 cm. Capsule oblong-cylindric, 5-valved, 10–14 × 5–6 mm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Jul–Aug. (Flora of China)

07/22/2010, Mt. Changbai, Jilin