Audra State Park, located in northwestern West Virginia, has been determined to contain diploid, triploid, and tetraploid deciduous azaleas using flow cytometry by
Dr. João Loureiro, Dr. Silvia Castro, José Cerca, and Mariana Castro
Plant Ecology and Evolution Group,
Centre for Functional Ecology,
Department of Life Sciences,
Faculty of Science and Technology,
University of Coimbra, Portugal.
Audra State Park contains the diploid species periclymenoides and arborescens and the tetraploid species calendulaceum. The three species have interacted to create nature hybrids some of which are triploids.
There are indications that Rhododendron prinophyllum may also be present. Rhododendron maximum and Kalmia latifolia are present.
Summary of Ploidy Levels
Diploid Rhododendron arborescens,
Diploid Rhododendron maximum,
Diploid Rhododendron periclymenoides,
Diploid Rhododendron prinophyllum,
Triploid Some deciduous azalea hybrids in Audra State Park,
Tetraploid Rhododendron calendulaceum
Source: Audra State Park
John and Sally Perkins
