Leaves were once used in beer making to make it heady. Natural Resources Canada. It may als… The leaves were also chopped and applied to burns, which were said to heal more rapidly. The Haida people picked the leaves before the shrubs would flower or in late summ… Montreal. In the warmer areas of the tundra, it grows straight up and in the colder areas, The multiple branches are procumbent or upright and the growth form is rounded [23,58,137,170,196]. Like other plants in the Heath family, it contains an andromedotoxin that can cause adverse effects including headache, cramps, indigestion, vomiting, and even death. Basically, anywhere you can grow rhododendrons, you can grow Labrador tea, although the tea plant is much hardier than a rhodo. It may occur as an understory component in open or closed forest habitats, primarily with black or white spruce. It will grow up straight in the southern latitudes of the tundra, but in the colder northern latitudes it will creep over the ground forming a carpet. Labrador tea, common name for two species of low-growing, perennial evergreen shrubs in the Rhododendron genus of the heath family (Ericaceae). Several white flowers occur in showy rounded umbel-like terminal inflorescences. Wild food can help treat various medical conditions. It is one of the first plants to recolonize after fire and grows rapidly. Porsild, A.E. Ottawa. To make a tea rich in Vitamin C, steep one heaping teaspoonful of leaves or flowers per person in boiling water for 5 minutes. Wild flowers of the Pacific Northwest. Leaf margins are revolute and undersides are woolly [4,68,137,170,196]. Edmonton. Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum and Ledum palustre), also called Hudson's Bay or Indian tea, shrubs of the heath family (Ericaceae). Common names are from state and federal lists. New leaves have white hairs all over and are green on top. Vancouver. The plant spreads roots in the organic layer with rhizomes. Crane. This plant can grow up to 1 metre (3’) tall. Connecticut. Bog Labrador tea is an evergreen resinous shrub that grows to 4.9 feet (1.5 m) tall. Ed. They measure up to 2 inches (5 cm) long by 2 cm wide and are firm and leathery. Forest Service Special Rep. 3. Resour. and R.A. Sims. In-depth wild edible PDFs. The plant is an indicator of wet, usually very acidic and nutrient poor organic soils and is widespread at low and medium elevations. Add lemon to make an iced tea. Marles, Robin J. et al. Labrador tea is the name for a tea brewed from three different Rhododendron species – Northern Labrador Tea, Bog Labrador Tea, and Western Labrador Tea. Labrador Tea - Rhododendron tomentosum and Rhododendron groenlandicum - marsh rosemary - is a lovely Northern evergreen shrub/herb that has a unique savoury flavour that is often used with meats or as a tea. Prior to that, the Haida people used it as a medicine.Turner 2005 During the American Revolution, it was one of several herbs used as a pleasant-tasting substitute for commercial tea. In Germany, leaves were added to beer to make it more intoxicating. subarcticum (Northern Labrador tea), Kalmia microphylla (Bog Laurel) or Andromeda polifolia (Bog Rosemary), as all three contain toxic alkaloids known to be poisonous to livestock. Germination is variable and can be quite slow. Edible and medicinal plants of the Rockies. Flowers: Several white flowers occur in showy rounded umbel-like termi… The plant was presumably used as a tonic by First Nations people. Labrador tea is dominant or co-dominant in a variety of habitats. CAUTION: The tea can cause drowsiness and can act as a strong diuretic, cathartic or cause intestinal disturbances. Some 4 species of genus Ledum exist worldwide, 3 in Canada. Other uses are associated with the pungent odor: the dried leaves were stored with grain to repel rodents, and extracts of the leaves were used to create an insect repellent. This plant is a useful ecological indicator because Labrador tea is characteristic of acidic soils with high moisture and poor nutrient regimes. Labrador tea is an important component of woodland understories through the early, mid and late seral stages of succession. Labrador Tea is found in peatlands, tundra and moist coniferous woods and is a frequenter of swamps, muskegs and bogs, though it may be found in drier, rocky places in the mountains. Let us find about the reported benefits and possible side effects of Labrador tea. Labrador Tea is my personal favourite wild tea. It is often abundant in the shaded portion of a forest, but can reach its greatest cover in bogs. Victoria. It reproduces generally by spreading vegetatively, and less commonly, from seed. It occurs in similar areas, though farther north and at higher elevation heath and tundra, up to 1800 m. It is often found with other dwarf shrubs or moss/lichen heaths, forming dense stands. To support our efforts please browse our store (books with medicinal info, etc.). It is thought that it was the Europeans who introduced the idea of using the plant more commonly as a tea. Linear leaves are simple and arranged alternately. On the bottom of these leaves are red hair which also retain moisture. Labrador tea prefers moist to wet peaty soils, especially in bogs and wet coniferous forests; also in peaty barrens. Leaves: The thick leathery texture, the rolled edges and the woolly mats of reddish hairs on the undersurface are all adaptations that help to conserve moisture. Interestingly, this shrub can generally survive fire as the rhizomes are found deep in the organic layer and it is often found in areas too wet to burn. Family Ericaceae . The colour should be a clear, pale amber-orange. Flowers blooms in June to early July. It does do best in sphagnum bogs however, forming colonies via rooting stems or rhizomes in the sphagnum. It often grows in dense colonies. Can., Can. This plant is especially important for woodland caribou from the time other shrubs lose their leaves in the fall until green sedges appear in the spring. All information, photographs and web content contained in this website is Copyright © EdibleWildFood.com 2020. It may occur as an understory component in open or closed forest habitats, primarily with black or white spruce. It has narrow, dark-green leaves … Propagation of Labrador Tea: Seed - surface sow in a shady part of the greenhouse in February or March. Why the name Labrador Tea When photographing caribou in the alphabet hills, my friend mentioned the scent of the labrador tea plant reminded him of his dad. Its twisted form and the swampy, slimey places it calls home shine in a way that no other plant has for me. 1995. Labrador tea plants are most noted for their “hairy” foliage and small white clusters of flowers. However, there isn't much evidence that proves the effectiveness of this plant. UBC Press. Nat. Hiratsuka, Y. D.W. Langor, and P.E. Ledum groenlandicum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1.5 m (5ft). Labrador tea is a common name for three closely related plant species in the genus Rhododendron as well as an herbal tea made from their leaves. nutrition, recipes, history, uses & more! New shoots of the season originate at the base of the flower cluster. It stays green year-round. It often grows in dense colonies. For instance, the undersides of the leaves have fine hairs, and when the pores in the leaves open to pull carbon dioxide from the air, the hairs keep the plant from losing water. There are 5 to 7 stamens and the filaments are longer than the petals. Growing in bogs of the northern hemisphere, this evergreen plant can be found and enjoyed anytime of year To treat excess hair loss, a tea concoction was drunk and also applied to the hair. Labrador tea main properties Just like rhododendrons, bearberry, azaleas, huckleberry and cornflowers, Labrador tea is a plant that belongs to the Ericaceae family. The fragrant leaves are used as a soothing tea and they have many medicinal uses. The leaves were used medicinally to treat a variety of ailments, including diarrhea, bad breath, pneumonia, eye infections, difficulty urinating, tension and kidney ailments, among more. Les Presses de l’Université de Montreal. Labrador tea is the younger cousin of Sweetgale and Bearberry. Labrador tea, a wholesome herbal infusion is prepared from the leaves of three species of labrador plant, including the Bog Labrador (Rhododendron groenlandicum), Western Labrador (Rhododendron neoglandulosum), and Northern Labrador (Rhododendron tomentosum).The flavorful tea, with its mild fruity taste is commonly taken for its numerous medicinal properties. Young stems are coated with curly hairs, while older stems are hairless. To conserve moisture, this plant developed leaves which have a thick and leathery texture. Plant guidebooks have fingered Labrador tea for causing both constipation and loose bowels, insomnia and drowsiness. Labrador Tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) is a slow growing evergreen shrub from the Ericacaea or Heath family. Labrador tea has the ability to concentrate zinc and copper, and thus has value in geo-botanical studies. This plant is an alternate host to a fungal disease called spruce needle rust.   The Labrador Tea Plant   This plant has many adaptations which make it able to survive in the tundra. The fuzzy leaves also help to prevent water loss. comm.). See more ideas about labrador, tea, plants. Labrador tea has been used for centuries, and is known for its amazing health benefits. Labrador tea is a member of the heath family. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects. Thanks to Beth Cornish, Jen Staniforth, Kim Monson, and Laura Frost, who all contributed to the text. Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing. Labrador Tea (Mamaittuqutik) Labrador tea is found on hillsides and is picked all year round, though it is stronger in fall and winter. It is also found in the northern United States. The name is also sometimes applied to a closely related shrub of the Rocky Mountains region. The sterner warnings may stem from the fact that Labrador will poison stock animals if they ingest entire stands of it. Traditionally She is harvested after this beautiful flowering through too when the first frosts have come to the northern Boreal areas where She grows. and W.J. As one person said, “It doesn’t die. While we strive to be 100% accurate, it is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Northern observers: Please report which species you are observing. Kershaw, L. 2000. A brown dye can be extracted from the leaves. Bog Labrador tea leaves are fragrant and were used as a beverage and medicine by many tribes such as the Quinault and Makah inwestern Washington, the Potawatomi in the Great Lakes region, and the Iroquois in the Northeast. Labrador Tea Labrador tea is an evergreen in many forms. Leaves grow alternate, simple, evergreen, fragrant when crushed, and have a short-petiolate. It reproduces generally by spreading vegetatively, and less commonly, from seed. “Twigs are covered in white to rusty red hairs; older stems are reddish brown and flaky” (Boland, 2011). All three species are primarily wetland plants in the heath family.