Rhododendron subgenus Hymenanthes

Taxobox
name = "Rhododendron" subgenus "Hymenanthes"


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Rhododendron ponticum"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ericales
familia = Ericaceae
genus = "Rhododendron"
subgenus = "Hymenanthes"
subgenus_authority = (Blume) K.Koch
subdivision_ranks = Subsections

"Rhododendron" subgenus "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.

The subgenus includes one section, "Rhododendron" sect. "Ponticum", divided into 24 subsections and about 140 species:
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Arborea" (three species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Argyrophylla" (six species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Auriculata" (one species, "R. auriculatum")
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Barbata" (two species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Campanulata" (two species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Campylocarpa" (four species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Falconera" (seven species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Fortunea" (ten species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Fulgensia" (two species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Fulva" (two species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Glischra" (five species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Grandia" (nine species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Griersoniana" (one species, "R. griersonianum")
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Irrorata" (seven species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Lanata" (one species, "R. lanatum")
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Maculifera" (six species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Neriiflora" (19 species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Parishia" (three species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Pontica" (13 species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Selensia" (five species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Taliensia" (20 species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Thomsonia" (seven species)
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Venatora" (one species, "R. venator")
*"Rhododendron" subsect. "Williamsiana" (one species, "R. williamsianum)

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.

References

* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?19854 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Rhododendron" subgenus "Hymenanthes"]
*Huxley, A., ed. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening". Macmillan.