Greek rhodon—rose, leios—smooth, referring to the rose-like flowers but with thornless stems.

Small evergreen tree with stems and leaf stalks yellowish red. Leaves alternate, entire, elliptic to ovate to about 12 cm long, leathery, occasionally with a thin red margin, waxy white below. Leaf stalks to about 7 cm long. Flowers in hanging heads and with coloured bracts. Petals 2-4 with narrowed bases, pinkish. Stamens 7-10. Ovary 2-chambered. Fruit of 5 spreading capsules.

China, Hong Kong

A rarely cultivated plant occasionally available in specialist nurseries.

NSW: Sydney (Royal Botanic Garden Sydney). VIC: Dandenongs ('Pirianda' about 2.5 m in 1984).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Hamamelidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.