Rhododendron columbianum

Rhododendron columbianum, commonly known as western Labrador tea, Swamp tea, or Muskeg tea, is a shrub that is widespread in the western United States and in western Canada, reported from British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. It grows in wet places from sea level up to 3,500 m (11,000 ft).[1] It was formerly known as Ledum columbianum.

Western Labrador tea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Rhododendron
Species:
R. columbianum
Binomial name
Rhododendron columbianum
(Piper) Harmaja
Synonyms[1]
  • Ledum columbianum Piper
  • Ledum glandulosum Nuttall 1843, not Rhododendron glandulosum (Standley ex Small) Millais 1917
  • Rhododendron neoglandulosum Harmaja

Description

Rhododendron columbianum is a shrub up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. The evergreen leaves are ovate to lanceolate, fragrant when crushed. Flowers are white to cream, borne in groups of 10 to 35.[2]

Uses

Rhododendron columbianum has been used medicinally as a tea astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic and laxative properties. The plant can, however, be toxic if the tea is allowed to steep too long. The fragrance of the leaves has also been shown useful in repelling insects and rodents.[3][4]

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References
  1. Flora of North America v 8 p 459.
  2. Harmaja, Harri (1990). Annales Botanici Fennici. 27 (2): 203. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "Ledum columbianum - Piper". Plants for a Future.
  4. Plants for a Future, The Goddess Project Archived 2014-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
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