Ledum was a genus in the family Ericaceae, including eight species of evergreen shrub native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and commonly known as Labrador tea. It is now recognised as a subsection of section Rhododendron, subgenus Rhododendron, of the genus Rhododendron.

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Species ...
Rhododendron subsect. Ledum
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Rhododendron columbianum (Ledum glandulosum)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron
Subgenus: Rhododendron subg. Rhododendron
Section: Rhododendron sect. Rhododendron
Subsection: R. subsect. Ledum
(L.) Kron & Judd
Species

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Description

Ledum species often grow together with poisonous plants such as bog-laurel and bog-rosemary, but certain species (e.g. L. groenlandicum and L. palustre) are easily distinguished by the distinctive rust coloured fuzz on the bottom of leaves.

Taxonomy

Reclassification into Rhododendron

Recent genetic evidence has shown that the species previously treated in this genus are correctly placed in the genus Rhododendron, where they are now treated as Rhododendron subsect. Ledum.[1] Because some of the species names used in Ledum could not be used in Rhododendron (the names already having been used for other species already in this large genus), new names had to be coined for them.[2]

Species

The species listed in genus Ledum (accepted and synonyms), with their current accepted names are:

More information Ledum species, Author ...
Ledum speciesAuthorGBIF statusTPL statusGBIF Accepted speciesAuthorGBIF statusTPL Accepted speciesAuthorTPL status
LedumL.Accepted[Ledum 1]
Ledum angustifoliumHort. ex LavalléeAccepted[Ledum 2]
Ledum buxifoliumBergiusSynonym[Ledum 3]Kalmia buxifolia(Bergius) Gift & KronAccepted[Kalmia 1]
Ledum californicumKelloggSynonym[Ledum 4]Ledum glandulosumAccepted[Ledum 5]
Ledum columbianumPiperSynonym[Ledum 6]Accepted[Ledum 7]Rhododendron columbianum(Piper) HarmajaAccepted[Rhody 1]
Ledum decumbens(Ait.) Lodd.Synonym[Ledum 8]Rhododendron tomentosum subsp. decumbens(Aiton) Elven & D.F.MurrayAccepted[Rhody 2]
Ledum decumbens(Ait.) Lodd. ex Steud.Synonym[Ledum 9]Synonym[Ledum 10]Rhododendron tomentosum subsp. decumbens(Aiton) Elven & D.F.MurrayAccepted[Rhody 2]Ledum palustre subsp. decumbensAccepted[Ledum 11]
Ledum decumbensSmallAccepted[Ledum 12]Accepted[Ledum 13]
Ledum glandulosumNutt.Synonym[Ledum 14]Accepted[Ledum 5]Rhododendron neoglandulosumHarmajaAccepted[Rhody 3]
Ledum glandulosum subsp. glandulosumSynonym[Ledum 15]Ledum glandulosumAccepted[Ledum 5]
Ledum glandulosum var. californicum(Kellogg) C.L.Hitchc.Synonym[Ledum 16]Ledum glandulosumAccepted[Ledum 5]
Ledum glandulosum var. glandulosumSynonym[Ledum 17]Ledum glandulosumAccepted[Ledum 5]
Ledum groenlandicumOederSynonym[Ledum 18]Synonym[Ledum 19]Rhododendron groenlandicum(Oeder) K.A.Kron & W.S.JuddAccepted[Rhody 4]Ledum palustre subsp. groenlandicumAccepted[Ledum 20]
Ledum groenlandicumRetz.Accepted[Ledum 21]
Ledum groenlandicum f. denudatumVict. & J.RousseauAccepted[Ledum 22]
Ledum groenlandicum subsp. glandulosum(Nutt.) Á.Löve & D.LöveSynonym[Ledum 23]Synonym[Ledum 24]Rhododendron neoglandulosumHarmajaAccepted[Rhody 3]Ledum glandulosumAccepted[Ledum 5]
Ledum groenlandicum var. aridiphilumD.LöveAccepted[Ledum 25]
Ledum hypoleucumKom.Synonym[Ledum 26]Synonym[Ledum 27]Rhododendron diversipilosum(Nakai) H.HarmajaAccepted[Rhody 5]Rhododendron hypoleucum(Kom.) HarmajaAccepted[Rhody 6]
Ledum idahoensisAccepted[Ledum 28]
Ledum macrophyllumTolm.Synonym[Ledum 29]Accepted[Ledum 30]Rhododendron diversipilosum(Nakai) H.HarmajaAccepted[Rhody 5]
Ledum maximum(Nakai) A.P.Khokhr. & M.T.MazurenkoSynonym[Ledum 31]Accepted[Ledum 32]Rhododendron tomentosumHarmajaAccepted[Rhody 7]
Ledum palustreL.Synonym[Ledum 33]Accepted[Ledum 34]Rhododendron tomentosumHarmajaAccepted[Rhody 7]
Ledum palustreMichx.Synonym[Ledum 35]Rhododendron groenlandicum(Oeder) K.A.Kron & W.S.JuddAccepted[Rhody 4]
Ledum palustre f. decumbens(Aiton) Y.L.Chou & S.L.TungSynonym[Ledum 36]Ledum palustre subsp. decumbensAccepted[Ledum 11]
Ledum palustre subsp. angustissimumWorosch.Synonym[Ledum 37]Rhododendron subulatum(Nakai) HarmajaAccepted[Rhody 8]
Ledum palustre subsp. decumbens(Aiton) HulténAccepted[Ledum 11]
Ledum palustre subsp. diversipilosumHaraSynonym[Ledum 38]Ledum macrophyllumAccepted[Ledum 30]
Ledum palustre subsp. groenlandicum(Oeder) HulténSynonym[Ledum 39]Accepted[Ledum 20]Rhododendron groenlandicum(Oeder) K.A.Kron & W.S.JuddAccepted[Rhody 4]
Ledum palustre var. angustifoliumHook.Accepted[Ledum 40][a]
Ledum palustre var. angustumE.A.BuschSynonym[Ledum 41]Ledum palustreAccepted[Ledum 34]
Ledum palustre var. decumbensAitonSynonym[Ledum 42]Ledum palustre subsp. decumbensAccepted[Ledum 11]
Ledum palustre var. diversipilosumNakaiSynonym[Ledum 43]Synonym[Ledum 44]Rhododendron diversipilosum(Nakai) H.HarmajaAccepted[Rhody 5]Ledum macrophyllumAccepted[Ledum 30]
Ledum palustre var. latifolium(Jacq.) Hook.Synonym[Ledum 45]Rhododendron groenlandicum(Oeder) K.A.Kron & W.S.JuddAccepted[Rhody 4]
Ledum palustre var. latifolium(Jacq.) Michx.Synonym[Ledum 46]Rhododendron groenlandicum(Oeder) K.A.Kron & W.S.JuddAccepted[Rhody 4]
Ledum palustre var. maximumNakaiSynonym[Ledum 47]Ledum maximumAccepted[Ledum 32]
Ledum palustre var. palustreSynonym[Ledum 48]Ledum palustreAccepted[Ledum 34]
Ledum palustre var. subulatumNakaiSynonym[Ledum 49]Rhododendron subulatum(Nakai) HarmajaAccepted[Rhody 9]
Ledum serpyllifoliumAccepted[Ledum 50]
Ledum subulatum(Nakai) A.P.Khokhr. & M.T.MazurenkoSynonym[Ledum 51]Synonym[Ledum 52]Rhododendron subulatum(Nakai) HarmajaAccepted[Rhody 8]Rhododendron subulatum(Nakai) HarmajaAccepted[Rhody 9]
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Species references

Ledum

  1. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum L." GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  2. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum angustifolium Hort. ex Lavallée". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  3. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50176889 Coming soon
  4. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50092423 Coming soon
  5. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12300614 Coming soon
  6. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum columbianum Piper". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  7. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12300613 Coming soon
  8. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum decumbens (Ait.) Loddiges". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  9. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum decumbens (Ait.) Loddiges ex Steudel". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  10. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=kew-2349911 Coming soon
  11. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=kew-2355735 Coming soon
  12. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum decumbens Small". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  13. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12300073 Coming soon
  14. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum glandulosum Nutt". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  15. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12302631 Coming soon
  16. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12300615 Coming soon
  17. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12302504 Coming soon
  18. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum groenlandicum Oeder". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  19. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=kew-2349909 Coming soon
  20. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=kew-2355734 Coming soon
  21. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum groenlandicum Retz". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  22. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum groenlandicum f. denudatum Vict. & J.Rousseau". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  23. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum groenlandicum var. aridiphilum D.Löve". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  24. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50298977 Coming soon
  25. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum groenlandicum var. aridiphilum D.Löve". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  26. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum hypoleucum Komarov". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  27. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12303119 Coming soon
  28. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum idahoensis". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  29. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum macrophyllum Tolm". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  30. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12300074 Coming soon
  31. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum maximum (Nakai) A.P.Khokhrjakov & M.T.Mazurenko". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  32. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50194624 Coming soon
  33. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum palustre L." GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  34. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=kew-2349893 Coming soon
  35. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum palustre Michx". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  36. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50156076 Coming soon
  37. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum palustre subsp. angustissimum Worosch". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  38. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12303120 Coming soon
  39. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum palustre subsp. groenlandicum (Oeder) Hulten". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  40. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum palustre var. angustifolium Hook". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  41. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50156075 Coming soon
  42. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=kew-2355732 Coming soon
  43. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum palustre var. diversipilosum Nakai". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  44. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-12303121 Coming soon
  45. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum palustre var. latifolium (Jacq.) Hook". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  46. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum palustre var. latifolium (Jacq.) Michx". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  47. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50194625 Coming soon
  48. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50156073 Coming soon
  49. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50194628 Coming soon
  50. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum serpyllifolium". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  51. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Ledum subulatum (Nakai) A.P.Khokhrjakov & M.T.Mazurenko". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  52. TPL Reference: group=Ledum name=tro-50194629 Coming soon

Rhododendron

  1. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Rhododendron columbianum (Piper) Harmaja". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  2. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Rhododendron tomentosum subsp. decumbens (Aiton) Elven & D.F.Murray". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  3. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Rhododendron neoglandulosum Harmaja". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  4. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Rhododendron groenlandicum (Oeder) K.A. Kron & W.S. Judd". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  5. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Rhododendron diversipilosum (Nakai) H. Harmaja". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  6. TPL Reference: group=Rhody name=tro-50303827 Coming soon
  7. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Rhododendron tomentosum Harmaja". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  8. GBIF Secretariat, ed. (2016). "Rhododendron subulatum (Nakai) Harmaja". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  9. TPL Reference: group=Rhody name=tro-50223463 Coming soon

Other

  1. TPL Reference: group=Kalmia name=tro-50310693 Coming soon

Hybrids

Natural hybrids (nothospecies) also occur.

  • Ledum columbianum = Rhododendron × columbianum (R. groenlandicum × R. neoglandulosum) is listed by Harri Harmaja as a natural hybrid.[2]
  • Rhododendron vanhoeffeni Abromeit[3] is a probably hybrid between Ledum palustre subsp. decumbens and Rhododendron lapponicum.[2]

Uses

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Ledum (L. groenlandicum) essential oil in clear glass vial

Some species (e.g. L. groenlandicum) have been used to produce Labrador tea. Other species have varying levels of toxicity (e.g. L. glandulosum). Evergreen Labrador Tea grows slowly, but retains its leaves year-round. Users should take care not to over-harvest leaves from any single plant.

See also

Notes

  1. This is an inconsistency in GBIF data: the species name is a "Synonym" but a variety is "Accepted".

References

Bibliography

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