Rhododendron "pink austrinum" has been determined to be a tetraploid using flow cytometry by
Dr. João Loureiro, Dr. Silvia Castro, José Cerca Oliveira, 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.
According to Ron Miller, Rhododendron "pink austrinum" exists as populations containing no yellow Rhododendron austrinum on the Yellow River in Florida. No decision has been made to whether this is a species separate from Rhododendron austrinum, a subspecies of Rhododendron austrinum, or a merely a pink form or variety of Rhododendron austrinum. Populations containing both pink tetraploids and yellow tetraploids resembling Rhododendron austrinum also exist. These tetraploid populations are not colocated with any diploid populations that bloom at the time the tetraploids are in bloom. There are no triploids in these populations.
Rhododendron "pink austrinum" was also determined to be a tetraploid using flow cytometry by Dr. Thomas Ranney, J.R. Jones, and Nathan Lynch.
Summary of Ploidy Levels
Tetraploid Rhododendron atlanticum,
Tetraploid Rhododendron austrinum,
Tetraploid Rhododendron calendulcaeum,
Tetraploid Rhododendron colemanii,
Tetraploid Rhododendron luteum,
Tetraploid Rhododendron "pink austrinum"
Source: Ron Miller
John and Sally Perkins
