Rhododendron groenlandicum

Taxobox | name = Bog Labrador Tea

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ericales
familia = Ericaceae
genus = "Rhododendron"
subsectio = "Ledum"
species = "R. groenlandicum"
binomial = "Rhododendron groenlandicum"
binomial_authority = (Oeder) Kron & Judd

Bog Labrador tea ("Rhododendron groenlandicum", formerly "Ledum groenlandicum"), is a flowering plant in the subsection "Ledum" of the large genus "Rhododendron" in the family Ericaceae. It is a low shrub growing to 50 cm (rarely up to 2 m) tall with evergreen leaves 20-60 mm long and 3-15 mm broad. The leaves are wrinkled on top, densely hairy white to red-brown underneath, and have a leathery texture, curling at the edges. The tiny white flowers grow in hemispherical clusters and are very fragrant and sticky.

It is found growing in northern latitudes right around the world. In Europe, it occurs south to the Alps, and in the United States, it reaches as far south as northern Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey in the east, and Oregon in the west. It grows in bogs and on wet shores, and sometimes on rocky alpine slopes.

For its traditional uses in herbal medicine, see Labrador Tea.

External links and references

*Peterson, R. T. and McKenny, M. "A Field Guide to Wildflowers Northeastern and North-central North America".
*Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. 1989. "Illustrated Flora of Britain and Northern Europe". Hodder & Stoughton.
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LEGR USDA PLANTS database: "Ledum groenlandicum"]
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/ledgro/index.html Labrador Tea from the point of view of the US Forest Service] .