Bog-rosemary

Taxobox
name = Bog-rosemary

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Andromeda polifolia" var. "polifolia" in flower
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ericales
familia = Ericaceae
genus = "Andromeda"
species = "A. polifolia"
binomial = "Andromeda polifolia"
binomial_authority = L.

Bog-rosemary ("Andromeda polifolia") is a heath found across northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Bog rosemary is only found in bogs in cold peat-accumulating areas.

It is a small shrub growing to 10-20 cm (rarely to 40 cm) tall with slender stems. The leaves are evergreen, alternately arranged, lanceolate, 1-5 cm long and 2-8 mm 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 long; flowering is in late spring to early summer. The fruit is a small capsule containing numerous seeds.

Bog-rosemary contains grayanotoxin, which when ingested lowers blood pressure, and may cause respiratory problems, dizziness, vomiting, or diarrhea.cite book |coauthors=Paul Alaback, Joe Antos, Trevor Goward, Ken Lertzman, Andy MacKinnon, Jim Pojar, Rosamund Pojar, Andrew Reed, Nancy Turner, Dale Vitt |editor=Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon |title=Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast |edition=Revised |year=2004 |publisher=Lone Pine Publishing|location=Vancouver |language=English language |isbn=978-1-55105-530-5 |pages=53]

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").

The name derives from the superficial resemblance of the leaves to those of the unrelated shrub Rosemary ("Rosmarinus", family Lamiaceae).

Andromeda is also the common name for plants in the genus "Pieris", which is also a member of Ericaceae.

External links

* [http://www.peatlandsni.gov.uk/plants/rare/bogrose.htm Bog-rosemary factsheet with photo]
* [http://www.alpine-plants-jp.com/art/himesyakunage_1.htm Flower] [http://www.alpine-plants-jp.com/himitunohanazono/himesyakunage_himitu_1.htm Fruits, Seeds]

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References