Azalea

gerald wallis

What is Azalea in taxonomy terms? I know the genus is Rhododendron but Azalea doesn't seem to be a species.

amancalledgeorge

Google is your friend: https://www.rhododendron.org/classification.htm 

gerald wallis

Thanks for the reply George. I had seen that site but it still doesn't say if the term Azalea is a taxonomy class. I don't think so, I believe it's just a common name for some Rhodos but I want to be sure for something I'm writing. Could you (or anyone) clarify this please.

gerald wallis

OK, got it, I didn't read far enough down the Rhodo page on Wiki. Azalea is a subgenus of the Rhodo.

Silver surfer

I love Rhododendrons.
I thought I had it sussed.

All Azaleas are Rhododendrons...but not all Rhododendrons are Azaleas.
Rhododendrons had 10 stamen
Those called Azalea have 5 stamen

But at a talk last month by Rhodo expert Richard Milne, apparently this is even wrong.
So it gets very technical...above my pay grade.

With DNA analysis, even shrubs like Menziezia are now reclassified under Rhododendron menziesii. Grr.

Just call them ALL Rhododendrons and you will be accurate.

Fairygirl

I think that's the general view - as you say @Silver surfer. All azaleas are rhodos, but not the other way round. It's the simplest way of thinking about it.

When it gets too complex, there's a danger of one's head exploding....

gerald wallis

Thanks folks, I've got it pretty well sorted in my brain now!

Fairygirl

@gerald wallis - like Homer Simpson, I find that when I learn something new - it pushes something else out of my brain