Pukeiti

Family: Ericaceae (Heath)

Distribution: Taiwan (central)

IUCN Red list: Vulnerable

Life form: Shrub - evergreen

Comments: Habit: A compact and dense shrub, that gets more open with age.
Foliage: Lanceolate to ovate leaves, 6-11cm long by 2-6cm wide. The upper surface is dark green with a conspicuous silvery indumentum. The underside is covered with a thick, woolly cinaomn or rusty-brown indumentum of hairs.
Flowers: In trusses of 8-10 (sometimes more) campanulate flowers of white flushed pink.
History: Distinctive Taiwanese species introduced by John Patrick in 1972 from Rhododendron Venture collection - RV 72001.