Ericaceae FAMILY

Rhododendron groenlandicum

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

Plants contain a narcotic toxin called Ledol - this is a sesquiterpene that can cause cramps, paralysis, and delirium. Ledol is also said to have various beneficial effects if consumed in the correct dosage and it is said that, when ingested as a herbal tea, it only causes problems if the leaves are cooked for a long period in a closed container[ 172 Title Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. Publication Author Schofield. J. J. Publisher Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska Year 2003 ISBN 0882403699 Description A nice guide to some useful plants in that area. ].

Botanical Description

Rhododendron groenlandicum is an evergreen shrub with erect and/or prostrate stems growing from a rhizomatous rootstock; it can grow 20 - 150cm tall[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant is often used to make a tea and is often used medicinally. It is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeNorthern N. America - Alaska to Greenland and Newfoundland, south to Oregon, Idaho, Manitoba, Minnesota and Pennsylvania

HabitatBogs, spruce forests, muskeg, swamps, stream margins, talus slopes, tundra; at elevations up to 2,000 metres[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. Cold bogs and montane coniferous woods[ 4 Title A Modern Herbal. Publication Author Grieve. Publisher Penguin Year 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 Description Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants. , 50 Title Flora Europaea Publication Author ? Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1964 ISBN - Description An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader. ].