Rhododendron

• Authority

  Luteyn, James L., et al. 1995. Ericaceae, Part II. The Superior-Ovaried Genera (Monotropoideae, Pyroloideae, Rhododendroideae, and Vaccinioideae P.P.). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 66: 560. (Published by NYBG Press)

• Family

  Ericaceae

• Scientific Name

  Rhododendron L.

• Synonyms

  Rhododendron ferrugineum L.

• Description

  
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  Genus Description - Terrestrial or epiphytic, evergreen or deciduous, shrubs or trees or occasionally subshrubs; indumentum extremely variable including unicellular, uniseriate, multiseriate-multicellaular glandular and eglandular hairs, and scales, persistent or not. Leaves alternate to pseudoverticillate, exstipulate, petiolate or subsessile; blades simple, flat to longitudinally curled, coriaceous or chartaceous, marginally entire or rarely ciliate-serrulate. Buds with several to many imbricate scales. Inflorescence terminal or less commonly axillary, perulate, umbelliform or corymbose, sometimes solitary; pedicels not articulating with the calyx; bracts and bracteoles brown and deciduous. Flowers: calyx lobes free, usually 5(-10), often somewhat reduced; corolla sympetalous, (4-)5-8 (-10)-lobed, rotate to campanulate, or funnelform, sometimes tubular, usually zygomorphic, deciduous, white to yellow, pink, purple, or deep red; stamens 5-10(-20), filaments usually unequal, pubescent or glabrous; anthers unappendaged, dehiscing by an ovate terminal pore; ovary 5(-20)-locular, superior; style slender, curved; stigma capitate. Fruit a dry septicidal capsule, usually ovoid to oblong; seeds numerous, minute, flat, and more or less winged to fusiform.

• Discussion

  Only one species, R. simsii, occurs as an escape in the Neotropics. A second species, R. arboreum Smith, has been collected twice on Jamaica (G. R. Proctor 24699 & T. G. Yunker 18671); it is not considered here to be a native or escaped.