The first complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of <i>Rhododendron simsii</i> var. <i>putuoense</i> G. Y. Li &amp; Z. H. Chen (Ericaceae) from East China

We sequenced the first chloroplast (cp) genome of <i>Rhododendron simsii</i> var. <i>putuoense</i> G. Y. Li & Z. H. Chen 2010, an endemic coastal plant species unique to East China, to clarify its phylogenetic relationships. The cp genome is 151,998 bp long with a 35.76% GC content and lacks the typical quadripartite structure. It contains118 genes: 76 mRNAs, 38 tRNAs, and four ribosomal RNAs. Phylogenetic analysis shows that <i>R. simsii</i> var. <i>putuoense</i> is closely related to <i>R. simsii</i> supporting its recent divergence from this species. This study expands genetic resource for the variety and clarifies its position within <i>Rhododendron</i>.