Rhododendron 'Loderi Venus', which is a Sir Edmund Loder hybrid documented as R. fortunei ssp. fortunei x R. griffithianum, has been determined to be a diploid 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.
Although Rhododendron griffithianum is in the background of several polyploid elepidote hybrids, many diploid hybrids also contain this species.
Summary of Ploidy Levels
Diploid 'Loderi Venus',
Triploid 'Markeeta’s Flame',
Triploid 'Markeeta’s Prize'
Source: Whitney Nursery
John and Sally Perkins
