KEY TO THE SPECIES Of RHODODENDRON SECT. CAROLINIANA IN THE FIELD

1. Narrow part of the corolla tube ca. 0–2 mm long; peak flowering simultaneous with peak flowering of Kalmia latifolia; only in the center of Great Smoky Mountains N.P..................................................................................................... R. smokianum

1. Narrow part of the corolla tube. 4 mm long; main flowering before to simultaneous with Kalmia latifolia; Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South and North Carolina .................................................................................................. 2

2. Leaves mostly 45–60 mm long, 17–24 mm wide, in the sun clearly revolute; typically occurring with Serenoa repens; Florida ..... R. chapmanii

2. Leaves mostly 60–110 mm long, 20–40 mm wide, flat or only slightly revolute; Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South and North Carolina .... 3

3. Narrow part of the corolla tube 4–6 mm long; corolla explanate; main flowering in early spring, long before Kalmia latifolia; foliation starting with or after flowering; North and South Carolina .................................................................. R. carolinianum

3. Narrow part of the corolla tube 4–15 mm long; corolla funnelform; main flowering in late spring, together with Kalmia latifolia; foliation before flowering (in southern parts of the range also after flowering); Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South and North Carolina ....... R. minus