Bog Rosemary

Andromeda glaucophylla

Foliage Type:

leaf

Arrangement:

simple, alternate

Distinguishing features: spreading evergreen shrub 4 inches to 2 feet tall leaves very short-stalked leaves narrowly lanced-shaped or narrowly oblong, 3/4 to 2 inches long pointed at base and shoort-pointed at tip leaf margin strongly rolled leaves thick and leathery in texture leaves dark bluish green and shiny above, very white and minutely downy beneath fruits are turban shaped, 5-parted capsules about 3/16 in diameter

Habitats:	wet sites (bogs) shallow pools
Often confused with:	Leatherleaf Labrador Tea Bog/Pale Laurel
Ecological Value:
Did You Know?	Bog Rosemary leaves are toxic because they contain the poison acetylandromedol (causes paralysis and eventually death). The species name glaucophylla comes from the term "glaucous" which describes the hair on the underside of the leaves. Reporduces through underground horizontal creeping rootstocks.
Uses / Ethnobotanical uses:	The Ojibwa used the leaves to make an aromatic tea.