Phylogenetic Relationships within the Rhodoreae (Ericaceae) with Specific Comments on the Placement of Ledum

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Abstract
The cladistic relationships of the tribe Rhodoreae (Ericaceae; Rhododendroideae) are investigated. The tribe is likely monophyletic, and may be diagnosed by the perulae found with the inflorescence. The genus Rhododendron, as currently recoginzed, is shown to be paraphyletic. However, if Ledum is included (as a subsection of sect. Rhododendron, within subg. Rhododendron), and Therorhodion is excluded, then the genus is probably monophyletic. Ledum likely is related most closely to Rhododendron subsect. Edgeworthia. The cladistic relationships within Rhododendron are consistent with the recognition of eight subgenera: Anthodendron, Azaleastrum, Candidastrum, Choniastrum, Hymenanthes, Mumeazalea, Rhodendron, and Tsutsusi. The monophyly of Copeland''s segregate genera is thus, in large part, supported, although these groups are placed here at subgeneric rank. Among these subgenera, Anthodendron is possibly cladistically basal. This subgenus and the phenetically similar subgenera Tsutsusi, Azaleastrum, Choniastrum, Candidastrum, and Mumeazaelea have been recognized traditionally as the "azalea complex" or chorus subgenerum Nomazalea, but this group is paraphyletic and should not be given formal taxonomic recognition. The circumscription and phylogenetic relationships of some subgenera, e.g., Azaleastrum (as broadly defined, i.e. including Choniastrum, Mumeazalea, and Canadidstrum) need further study. Menziesia and Tsusiophyllum are recognizable at the generic level, and may be related due to the shared possession of slit-like anther dehiscence. Thus, the pattern of character variation within the tribe may be expressed by the recognition of four genera: Therorhodion, Menziesia, Tsusiophyllum, and Rhododendron. The following new combinations are made: Rhododendron subsect. Ledum, R. palustre, R. groenlandicum [The bagonyms are Ledam palustre, and L. groenlandicum].