Rhododendron subg. Hymenanthes

Rhododendron subgenus Hymenanthes
Rhododendron ponticum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron
Subgenus: Hymenanthes
(Blume) K.Koch
Sections
  • Ponticum
  • Pentanthera

Rhododendron subg. Hymenanthes is a subgenus of the genus Rhododendron, with a widespread distribution in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The species are evergreen shrubs and small to medium-sized trees (up to 20 m tall), with medium-sized to large leaves (very large, over 40 cm long, in a few species). The flowers are large, produced in terminal trusses of 5-40 together.[1]

The subgenus includes one section, Rhododendron sect. Ponticum, divided into 24 subsections and about 140 species. In 2005 the subgenus was expanded by adding section Pentanthera.[2]

Section Ponticum (24 subsections)

Section Pentanthera (2 subsections)

Cultivation

This subgenus includes the majority of the larger evergreen rhododendrons widely grown as ornamental plants. Some species, notably Rhododendron ponticum, have escaped from cultivation and become invasive in some regions such as New Zealand.

References

  1. ↑ Chamberlain, DF; Hyam R; Argent G; Fairweather G; Walter KS (1996). The genus Rhododendron: its classification and synonymy. Royal Botanic gardens Edinburgh. ISBN 1 872291 66 X. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ Goetsch, Loretta A.; Eckert, Andrew J.; Hall, Benjamin D. (July–September 2005). "The molecular systematics of Rhododendron (Ericaceae): a phylogeny based upon RPB2 gene sequences". Systematic Botany. 30 (3): 616–626. doi:10.1600/0363644054782170. Retrieved July 3, 2014.

Bibliography


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