A new species, Rhododendron heterolepis Danet, recently discovered in the Indonesian province of Papua is described and illustrated. It differs from other species in the section Vireya (Blume) H.F.Copel by having an heterogenous and unequally distributed indumentum of scales on the underside of the foliar limb. It can be separated from R. scabridibracteum Sleumer by having a pink corolla, smaller and less indumented bracts, pauciflorous umbels, smaller anthers, an ovary with scales clearly visible between simple hairs, and a glabrous style in the upper half.
Ericaceae, Rhododendron, Vireya, New Guinea, Indonesia, Papua, new species