Rhododendron columbianum

(Piper) Harmaja

Ann. Bot. Fenn. 27: 203. 1990,.

Common names: Western Labrador tea
Basionym: Ledum columbianum Piper Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 11: 441. 1906
Synonyms: Ledum glandulosum Nuttall 1843, not Rhododendron glandulosum (Standley ex Small) Millais 1917 Rhododendron neoglandulosum Harmaja
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 459. Mentioned on page 455, 456, 460.

Shrubs or trees, to 2 m, rhizomatous. Stems: bark smooth, sometimes peeling or shredding with age; twigs unicellular-hairy, papillate, with flattened, glandular scales (lepidote). Leaves persistent, (fragrant when crushed); petiole with glandular-peltate scales without broad rim and few, ferruginous, long-crisped hairs; blade (white or pale green abaxially), ovate to lanceolate, (1–)2–8 × 1.5–3 cm, coriaceous, margins entire, plane, glabrous, apex usually acute, abaxial surface sparsely to densely papillate, with few, ferruginous, long-crisped hairs and glandular-peltate scales without broad rim, adaxial surface with scattered lepidote scales and/or papillae, sometimes also unicellular-hairy along midrib. Floral bud scales with peltate scales without broad rim and unicellular-hairy abaxially, margins unicellular-hairy. Inflorescences slightly rounded, 10–35-flowered; bracts lepidote abaxially, margins ciliate, unicellular-hairy. Pedicels 4–25 mm, with dense to sparse, ferruginous, long-crisped, unicellular and/or peltate scales, sometimes also long-stalked, multicellular glandular-hairy. Flowers radially symmetric, opening after leaves (of flowering shoots), ± erect, fragrance not noticeable at mid day; calyx lobes (often reflexed in fruit), ± 1–1.5 mm, outer surface densely to sparsely unicellular-hairy (hairs tan) and multicellular stipitate-glandular-hairy (hairs red) on margins; corolla white to cream, without blotch, ± rotate, 2–8 mm, inner surface hairy proximally, outer surface glabrous, petals appearing distinct or only slightly connate basally, lobes (4–)5–7 mm; stamens (8–)10(–12), exserted, ± equal, 4.5–8.4 mm. Capsules borne on recurved pedicels, 2.5–5 × 2–6 mm (only slightly longer than wide), glabrous, acropetally dehiscent. Seeds somewhat elongated beyond narrow ends; testa closely appressed. 2n = 26.


Phenology: Flowering spring-mid summer.
Habitat: Bogs, swamps, stream margins, sometimes on well-drained sites
Elevation: 0-3500 m

Distribution

V8 897-distribution-map.gif

Alta., B.C., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Rhododendron columbianum"
Walter S. Judd +  and Kathleen A. Kron +
(Piper) Harmaja +
Ledum columbianum +
Western Labrador tea +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Nev. +, Oreg. +, Utah +, Wash. +  and Wyo. +
0-3500 m +
Bogs, swamps, stream margins, sometimes on well-drained sites +
Flowering spring-mid summer. +
Ann. Bot. Fenn. +
Ledum glandulosum +  and Rhododendron neoglandulosum +
Rhododendron columbianum +
Rhododendron +
species +