A Classification of the Genus Rhododendron Sect. Brachycalyx (Ericaceae) in Japan (1)

Tadashi Minamitani, Yuichi Kadota, Koji Yonekura

doi:10.51033/jjapbot.93_2_10849

Rhododendron sect. Brachycalyx (Ericaceae) is diverse in Japan, and is known as a taxonomically difficult group because of extensive speciation and occasional hybridization, mostly coetaneous or precocious nature, and inadequate description of many taxa mainly based on limited herbarium specimens. This paper is a revisional work of Japanese taxa of the sect. Brachycalyx mainly based on the first author’s examination of living materials in the field throughout Japan for nearly 50 years together with many herbarium specimens, allowing sufficient characterization of every member. Taxonomic history of Japanese sect. Brachycalyx species is reviewed. Useful characters in habits, winter buds, flowers, capsules and leaves are extracted, not only for delimitation of taxa but also estimation of interspecific relationships and recognition of hybridity. Distribution of stipitate glands on vegetative and/or reproductive organs and their viscidness are regarded as important characters. In this study 18 species including two new ones are recognized and classified into eight series. Two new taxonomic states from variety to subspecies are proposed, two species, a subspecies, 10 varieties and five forms are newly described. A key to Japanese taxa of Rhododendron sect. Brachycalyx based on flowering and fruiting materials, and synoptical enumeration on all recognized taxa in each series as well as their distinction, distribution, and ecological notes will be described in the next paper.

A Classification of the Genus <i>Rhododendron</i> Sect. <i>Brachycalyx</i> (<i>Ericaceae</i>) in Japan (1)

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