Labrador Tea The
Labrador tea plant grows to be 4 to 5 feet. 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. It has
woolly branches with narrow 1 to 2 inch leaves
which are smooth on the upper side, with rusty
hairs underneath. They droop slightly and edges are
rolled under, and are a leathery green in color. At
the ends of the branches are tiny clusters of white
flowers with protruding stamen, which bloom in June
and July. The part
used from this plant are the leaves, which were
brewed for tea by Native Americans. The tea is
very They are also used for medical purposes. Externally it was used for all kinds of skin problems. Tea was used for stomach and nerve ailments. A syrup was made from the tea to be used for coughs They usually grow in wet meadows, bogs, and forest areas mostly in the lower latitudes of the tundra biome. Bees are attracted to the flowers, but animals don't eat them because they are said to be slightly poisonous. Eliot T. 2000
bibliography: "Labrador Tea", http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/shrubs/ledum.html, (July 2000). "Labrador Tea", http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/l/labrad01.html, (July 2000).
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