Abstract.
Phylogenetic relationships among all eight subgenera and 12 sections in Rhododendron as well as its related genera were inferred from matK and trnK intron sequences. The results of this study provided the following insights: (1) Rhododendron is paraphyletic because Menziesia is nested within Rhododendron. (2) Subgenus Therorhodion forms a basal lineage of tribe Rhodoreae. (3) Subgenera Hymenanthes and Tsutsusi are monophyletic. (4) Subgenera Azaleastrum and Pentanthera are polyphyletic. (5) Subgenus Rhododendron is monophyletic, if section Rhododendron subsection Ledum is excluded.
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Received January 8, 1999, in definite form December 22, 2000 Accepted April 12, 2001
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Kurashige, Y., Etoh, JI., Handa, T. et al. Sectional relationships in the genus Rhododendron (Ericaceae): evidence from matK and trnK intron sequences. Plant Syst. Evol. 228, 1–14 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s006060170033
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s006060170033