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Andromeda polifolia L.

Bog-rosemary

Ericaceae (Heath family)

General Description: A small, low-spreading, evergreen shrub with erect stems 10-80 cm tall from creeping rootstocks. The dull green, leathery-textured leaves are narrowly elliptic to nearly linear in outline, sharp-pointed, mostly 1.5-4 cm long by 2-6 mm broad, and have entire, revolute margins. The lower leaf surfaces are whitish-glaucous due to the presence of a fine, waxy powder. Pedicels are usually somewhat recurved and 5-12 mm long. The corolla is globose-urn-shaped, pinkish, and 5-8 mm long. The widely flared sepals are only about 1 mm long. Anthers are adorned by two slender awns and open by terminal pores. The fruit is a small glabrous capsule.

Illustration.

Field Identification Tips: The low-growing habit, combined with the dull green, nearly linear-shaped leaves that have a whitish-glaucous lower surface, flower stems somewhat curved backwards at the tip, and confinement to boggy habitats, help distinguish this species in the field.

Phenology: June to July.

Similar Species: Most likely to be confused with other low-growing ericaceous shrubs, most notably Gaultheria(wintergreen) spp., represented by three species in northern Idaho. They all tend to be creeping/trailing or less than 30 cm tall. Leaves rounded in outline and fleshy, berry-like fruits are two other features of Gaultheria ssp. that help to distinguish them from Andromeda.

Habitat: Bogs and fens.

Global Distribution: Circumpolar. In North America from Alaska to Labrador, southward to British Columbia, Alberta, and northern Washington and Idaho.

Idaho Distribution: The north end of Priest Lake in Bonner County.

References:

Coupe, R., C. A. Ray, A. Comeau, M. V. Ketcheson, and R. M. Annas. 1982. A guide to some common plants of the Skeena Area, British Columbia. Land Management Handbook Number 4. Province of British Columbia Ministry of Forests. 215 pp.