Authors: G K Brown L A Craven F Udovicic P Y Ladiges
Publish Date: 2005/12/29
Volume: 257, Issue: 1-2, Pages: 57-93
Abstract
Section Vireya Blume Copelf is one of the most morphologically diverse groups of the genus Rhododendron Vireyas have a unique distribution for the genus being predominantly found throughout the Malesian Archipelago The alpha taxonomy of section Vireya is relatively well understood and taxa are easily distinguished from other rhododendrons by their general appearance Defining characteristics of the section the possession of seeds with tailed appendages at both ends the twisting of capsule valves after opening placentas that separate as threadlike structures from the central axis as the capsule opens are all subject to exceptionsPhylogenetic analyses of two cpDNA regions psbAtrnH and trnTtrnL intergenic spacers are reported The results of each analysis were generally congruent with clades relating strongly to geographic areas Section Vireya is monophyletic with the inclusion of at least one species of section Rhododendron Only two of the seven subsections currently circumscribed are monophyletic Malayovireya Sleumer and Siphonovireya Sleumer ``Euvireya all subsections excluding the paraphyletic subsection Pseudovireya is monophyletic and includes two major clades one restricted to eastern Malesia and the other to the western and middle Malesia
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