Rhododendron 'Chickasaw', which was found in the wild by Clarence Towe and documented as a natural hybrid involving Rhododendron periclymenoides and Rhododendron calendulaceum, has been determined to be a tetraploid 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.
Rhododendron 'Chickasaw' is "pollen sterile". 'Chickasaw' was suspected of being a triploid. Rhododendron 'Chickasaw' is seed fertile. Sally and John Perkins successfully crossed 'Chickasaw' by Rhododendron luteum 'Golden Comet'.
Summary of Ploidy Levels
Diploid Rhododendron periclymenoides,
Tetraploid Rhododendron calendulaceum,
Tetraploid Rhododendron luteum 'Golden Comet',
Tetraploid 'Chickasaw'
Source: John and Sally Perkins
John and Sally Perkins
