This “species” has recently been described by Chinese botanists.  It occurs only in the Wumeng Shan in NE Yunnan Province, China where it is found around 13,000 ft. in Abies forests.  During an expedition to this area in 1995, we observed numerous plants which were obvious hybrids between R. bureavii and R. sikangense var. exquisitum, both of which were common in the area.  These natural hybrids closely matched the description for R. pubicostatum.  Unfortunately, we were only able to botanize a small area of this large range of mountains and additional fieldwork will be required to sort out the taxonomy of these populations.  R. pubicostatum is described as close to bureavii with a thinner brown indumentum and pink flowers.

1997sd256  AC#2061:RSBG  (-10\R1\4).  Grown from seed collected wild in Yunnan.  Absolutely beautiful foliage on these seedlings.