Labrador tea

Labrador tea
a North American bog shrub, Ledum groenlandicum, of the heath family, having evergreen leaves and rounded clusters of white flowers.
[1760-70, Amer.]

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▪ plant
 common name for two species of low-growing, perennial evergreen shrubs in the Rhododendron genus of the heath family (Ericaceae). R. tomentosum is circumpolar and also native to eastern North America. The name is also sometimes applied to a closely related shrub of the Rocky Mountains region. The plants used to be in the now eliminated genus Ledum, which differed from Rhododendron only in having separate, not fused, petals and capsules that open from the bottom first.

      R. groenlandicum is found in cold boggy areas and grows to about 1 metre (3 feet) high. The twigs are reddish. The fragrant leaves, which are sometimes used for making tea, are smooth-edged and elliptical and have a rusty “wool” on the underside. The leaf margins are recurved. The white or creamy flowers, 2 cm (0.8 inch) wide, are borne in a terminal cluster. There are five sepals and five petals.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Labrador tea — Labrador tea, is a name commonly applied to two species: Ledum palustre (Northern Labrador Tea, also known as Rhododendron tomentosum) and Ledum groenlandicum (Bog Labrador Tea). In Labrador itself, Labrador Tea is also frequently called Indian… …   Wikipedia

  • Labrador tea — Tea Tea (t[=e]), n. [Chin. tsh[=a], Prov. Chin. te: cf. F. th[ e].] 1. The prepared leaves of a shrub, or small tree ({Thea Chinensis} or {Camellia Chinensis}). The shrub is a native of China, but has been introduced to some extent into some… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Labrador tea — Labrador Lab ra*dor , n. A region of British America on the Atlantic coast, north of Newfoundland. [1913 Webster] {Labrador duck} (Zo[ o]l.), a sea duck ({Camtolaimus Labradorius}) allied to the eider ducks. It was formerly common on the coast of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Labrador-tea — grenlandinis gailis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Erikinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Rhododendron groenlandicum), paplitęs Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Ledum groenlandicum; Rhododendron groenlandicum angl. Labrador tea; ledum vok …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Labrador tea — noun evergreen shrub of eastern North America having white or creamy bell shaped flowers and dark green hairy leaves used for tea during American Revolution • Syn: ↑crystal tea, ↑Ledum groenlandicum • Hypernyms: ↑shrub, ↑bush • Member Holonyms:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Labrador tea — noun Date: 1767 a low growing ericaceous evergreen shrub (Ledum groenlandicum) chiefly of northern North America with white or creamy bell shaped flowers and leaves sometimes used in making tea; also a related shrub (L. glandulosum) of western… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Labrador tea — evergreen shrub of northern North America with bell shaped flowers and fragrant leaves (in Canada its leaves are used for making tea) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Labrador tea — noun a low growing northern shrub with fragrant leathery evergreen leaves, sometimes used in Canada to make tea. [Genus Ledum.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • Marsh Labrador Tea — Taxobox | name = Marsh Labrador Tea image width = 240px image caption = R. tomentosum in flower regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida ordo = Ericales familia = Ericaceae genus = Rhododendron subsectio = Ledum species =… …   Wikipedia

  • Tea — (t[=e]), n. [Chin. tsh[=a], Prov. Chin. te: cf. F. th[ e].] 1. The prepared leaves of a shrub, or small tree ({Thea Chinensis} or {Camellia Chinensis}). The shrub is a native of China, but has been introduced to some extent into some other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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