Marsh Labrador tea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marsh Labrador tea |
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| R. tomentosum in flower | |
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Rhododendron
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tomentosum
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List
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Rhododendron tomentosum (also known as Ledum palustre) is a fascinating flowering plant often called marsh Labrador tea, northern Labrador tea, or wild rosemary. It belongs to a large group of plants called Rhododendrons in the Ericaceae family.
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What Does Marsh Labrador Tea Look Like?
This plant is a small shrub that usually grows to about 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall, but sometimes it can reach up to 120 centimeters (nearly 4 feet). It has evergreen leaves that stay green all year. These leaves are about 12 to 50 millimeters long and 2 to 12 millimeters wide.
The plant produces small, white flowers. Each flower has five petals and they grow together in a cluster called a corymb, which is about 3 to 5 centimeters wide. These flowers have a strong smell that helps attract bees and other insects to pollinate them.
Where Does Marsh Labrador Tea Grow?
You can find marsh Labrador tea in many northern parts of the world. It grows in North America, including Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. In Europe, it's found in northern and central areas. It also grows in Asia, reaching south to northern China, Korea, and Japan.
This plant prefers to grow in specific types of environments. It likes peaty soil (soil made of decayed plant matter), shrubby areas, and places with lots of moss and lichen in the tundra.
Is Marsh Labrador Tea Safe?
It's very important to know that all parts of the marsh Labrador tea plant contain natural chemicals that can be harmful if eaten. These chemicals can affect the body's systems. Because of this, you should never eat any part of this plant.
Similar Plants to Marsh Labrador Tea
It's easy to confuse marsh Labrador tea with another plant called Rhododendron groenlandicum. This other plant is also known as Labrador tea and is found across Northern North America. While they look similar, they are different species.
How People Have Used Marsh Labrador Tea
Traditional Uses and Herbal Remedies
Historically, Rhododendron tomentosum has been used in herbalism to make an herbal tea sometimes called "Labrador tea". Some traditional practices have also used it for certain health issues. However, it's important to remember that there is no scientific proof that these uses provide any real health benefits.
Other Interesting Uses
In the Middle Ages, marsh Labrador tea was sometimes used as an ingredient called a gruit when brewing beer. This would give the beer a special flavor.
Because of its strong smell, people in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe also used it as a natural way to keep away clothes moths, as well as other insects like mosquitos and bugs.
See also
In Spanish: Rhododendron tomentosum para niños
