Rhododendrons and azaleas are arguably the Southâs favorite shrubs. Many people think of them as entirely different plants, but they both belong to the genus Rhododendron, which comprises more than 800 species and 10,000 named selections.
After fertilization, the zygote begins to divide rapidly. Twenty-four hours after fertilization, the zygote contains two cells, and three days after fertilization the zygote has 16 cells and is called a morula. The cells continue to divide and form a hollow bundle called a blastocyst. The blastocyst implants in the endometrium, and the cells begin to form the embryo. The embryo is present at five to six days after the zygote is fertilized. The embryo is a clump of cells inside the formerly hollow blastocyst, and is surrounded by the trophoblast.
One set of alleles comes from the maternal gamete and the other set from the paternal gamete. During union of gametes, the alleles are paired together, forming a zygote. The zygote, which bears two sets of alleles from its parents, develops into a new organism capable of reproducing by forming its own gametes.