Audra State Park contains Triploids

Two deciduous azalea hybrids in Audra State Park, West Virginia have been determined to be triploids 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 in West Virginia contains Rhododendron arborescens, Rhododendron maximum, Rhododendron periclymenoides, maybe
Rhododendron prinophyllum, and Rhododendron calendulaceum.

Summary of Ploidy Levels

Diploid Rhododendron arborescens,
Diploid Rhododendron maximum,
Diploid Rhododendron periclymenoides,
Diploid Rhododendron prinophyllum,
Triploid 2 deciduous azalea hybrids in Audra State Park,
Tetraploid Rhododendron calendulaceum

Source: Audra State Park, West Virginia

John and Sally Perkins

Rhododendron calendulaceum is a Tetraploid

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 calendulaceum 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 calendulaceum,
Tetraploid Rhododendron calendulaceum var. croceum,
Tetraploid Rhododendron calendulaceum 'Cherokee',
Tetraploid Rhododendron calendulaceum 'Smoky Mountaineer'

Source: Longwood Garden Accession Number: 2001-0273-B
Source: Connecticut College Arboretum Accession Number: 80-7-D
Source: Connecticut College Arboretum Accession Number: 81-71-J
Source: Highstead Arboretum Accession Number: 93-80-G
Source: Arnold Arboretum Accession Number: 857-2-A
Source: Audra State Park, West Virginia
Source: Joe Bruso

John and Sally Perkins

Rhododendron arborescens is a Diploid

Rhododendron arborescens 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.

Rhododendron arborescens was also determined to be a diploid using flow cytometry by Dr. Thomas Ranney, J.R. Jones, and Nathan Lynch.

Summary of Ploidy Levels

Diploid Rhododendron arborescens,
Diploid Rhododendron arborescens Pink Form,
Diploid Rhododendron arborescens Yellow Form Gable

Source: Arnold Arboretum Accession Number: 858-Mass
Source: Connecticut College Arboretum
Source: Audra State Park, West Virginia
Source: Joe Bruso

John and Sally Perkins

Rhododendron periclymenoides is a Diploid

Rhododendron periclymenoides 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.

Rhododendron periclymenoides tested was from a wild population located near Hamden, Connecticut.

Summary of Ploidy Levels

Diploid Rhododendron periclymenoides,
Diploid Rhododendron periclymenoides 'Appalachian Spring',
Diploid Rhododendron periclymenoides 'Doug Horegan'

Source: George Hibben
Source: Audra State Park, West Virginia
Source: Broken Arrow Nursery
Source: Connecticut College Arboretum Accession Number: 81-90-B
Source: Connecticut College Arboretum Accession Number: 81-90-E
Source: Longwood Gardens Accession Number: 2002-0208-B

John and Sally Perkins

Audra State Park: A Ploidy Haven

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