Editing Rhododendron (section)

== Description ==
[[File:Найкращі миті життя.jpg|thumb|Rhododendron in the [[Carpathian Mountains]] of Western Ukraine]]
''Rhododendron'' is a genus of [[shrub]]s and small to (rarely) large [[tree]]s, the smallest species growing to {{convert|10|-|100|cm|abbr=on|sigfig=1|round=each}} tall, and the largest, [[Rhododendron protistum|''R. protistum'' var. ''giganteum'']], reported to {{convert|30|m|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} tall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globaltrees.org/tp_bigtree.htm |title=Big Tree Rhododendron |website=Global Trees Campaign}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rhododendron-azalee.fr/classification_gb/fiches/protistum_giganteum.shtml |title=''Rhododendron protistum'' var. ''giganteum'' |last=Colombel |first=Marc}}</ref> The [[leaf|leaves]] are spirally arranged; leaf size can range from {{convert|1|-|2|cm|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} to over {{convert|50|cm|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}, exceptionally {{convert|100|cm|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} in [[Rhododendron sinogrande|''R. sinogrande'']]. They may be either [[evergreen]] or [[deciduous]]. In some species, the undersides of the leaves are covered with scales (lepidote) or hairs (indumentum). Some of the best known species are noted for their many clusters of large flowers. A recently discovered species in New Guinea has flowers up to six inches (fifteen centimeters) in width,<ref>{{cite news |  last= Hotz | first= Robert Lee | date= February 7, 2006 | title= A Trove of Unearthly Species....etc | newspaper= Los Angeles Times | page= A8 }} and see:  {{cite journal | url = https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/finding-a-lost-world/ | date = 2006-04-01 | title = Finding a Lost World | author = Charles Q. Choi | journal = [[Scientific American]] | volume = 294 | issue = 4 | pages = 32| doi = 10.1038/scientificamerican0406-32d | bibcode = 2006SciAm.294d..32C }}</ref> the largest in the whole genus. The accompanying photograph shows it as having seven [[petals]].  There are alpine species with small flowers and small leaves, and tropical species such as [[Section (botany)|section]] ''[[Rhododendron sect. Vireya|Vireya]]'' that often grow as [[epiphyte]]s. Species in this genus may be part of the heath complex in [[oak-heath forest]]s in eastern North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/natural_communities/ncintro.shtml|title=Introduction|website=www.dcr.virginia.gov}}</ref><ref>Schafale, M. P. and A. S. Weakley. 1990. ''Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina: third approximation''. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation.</ref>

They have frequently been divided based on the presence or absence of scales on the abaxial (lower) leaf surface ([[lepidote]] or elepidote). These scales, unique to subgenus ''Rhododendron'', are modified hairs consisting of a polygonal scale attached by a stalk.{{sfnp|Goetsch |Eckert |Hall|2005 |ref=Goetsch}}

''Rhododendron'' are characterised by having [[inflorescences]] with scarious (dry) [[Bud|perulae]], a [[chromosome number]] of x=13, [[fruit]] that has a [[septicidal]] [[Capsule (botany)|capsule]], an [[Ovary (botany)|ovary]] that is superior (or nearly so), [[stamens]] that have no appendages, and [[Agglutination (biology)|agglutinate]] (clumped) [[pollen]].{{sfnp|Brown |Craven |Udovicic |Ladiges |2006 |ref=Brown2006}}