Andromeda polifolia
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| Andromeda polifolia var. polifolia in flower | |
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Andromeda
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A. polifolia
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| Andromeda polifolia |
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Andromeda polifolia, common name bog-rosemary,[1] is a species of flowering plant native to northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It is the only member of the genus Andromeda, and is only found in bogs in cold peat-accumulating areas.
Description
It is a small shrub growing to 10–20 centimetres (4–8 in) (rarely to 40 cm or 16 in) tall with slender stems. The leaves are evergreen, alternately arranged, lanceolate, 1–5 centimetres (0.4–2.0 in) long and 2–8 millimetres (0.08–0.31 in) broad, dark green above (purplish in winter) and white beneath with the leaf margins curled under. The flowers are bell-shaped, white to pink, 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long; flowering is in late spring to early summer. The fruit is a small capsule containing numerous seeds.
There are two varieties, treated as distinct species by some botanists:
- Andromeda polifolia var. polifolia. Northern Europe and Asia, northwestern North America.
- Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla. Northeastern North America (syn. A. glaucophylla).
Etymology
The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus who observed it during his 1732 expedition to Lapland and compared the plant to Andromeda from Greek mythology. The specific epithet polifolia means "grey-leaved".[2] The common name "bog rosemary" derives from the superficial resemblance of the leaves to those of rosemary, which is not closely related.
Cultivation
Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, all of which require damp acid soil in shade. The cultivars 'Compacta'[3] and 'Macrophylla'[4] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Chemistry
Bog rosemary contains grayanotoxin, which when ingested lowers blood pressure, and may cause respiratory problems, dizziness, vomiting, or diarrhoea.[5]
References
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andromeda polifolia (Bog-rosemary). |
- Peatlandsni.gov.uk: Bog-rosemary factsheet with photo
- Images at Flavon's art gallery: Flower + Fruits, Seeds
Images
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Andromeda polifolia var. polifolia leaves
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Andromeda polifolia, Pancake Bay PP.jpg
Andromeda polifolia, Pancake Bay, Ontario
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Cleaned-Illustration Andromeda polifolia.jpg
Illustration
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Linnaeus' original drawing
