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Labrador tea

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

either of two closely related evergreen shrubs, Ledum groenlandicum and L. decumbens var. palustre.

See: country tea(def. 1),Hudson Bay tea,Indian tea(def. 1),Indian tea-plant,Labrador(def. 1),Labrador tea plant,squaw tea,swamp tea(def. 1),wild tea,wishakapucka,woolly Labrador tea,muskeg tea(def. 1)

Quotations

1822

On the skirts of the forest, and of the marshes, are found . . . the Indian or Labrador Tea, sweet-gale, and two species of roses.

1830

Labrador tea [is] an evergreen shrub two or three feet high, with dark brownish green leaves, rust colour beneath.

1910

Labrador tea, which belongs to the heath family, grows along the road.

1951

Labrador tea, the curling, rusty-bottomed leaves of the short perennial shrub we'd noticed in muskegs, is another favourite tobacco substitute.

1965

Between and among the sparse conifers is a shrub layer, usually of dwarf birches or Labrador tea.

an infusion made from the leaves of L. groenlandicum or from the flowers of L. palustre.

See: bush tea,country tea(def. 2),swamp tea(def. 2),wishakapucka tea,muskeg tea(def. 2)

Quotations

1833

Had some Labradore tea for dinner yesterday. . . .

1897

So all we had for 62 hours was two small rabbits (at least we thought them small) and Labrador tea with snowballs and mountain scenery, and a few moose tracks for dessert.

1963

Living entirely off the country--on deer, fish . . . and Labrador tea--the men worked well. . . .

See woolly Labrador tea 1955 quote.

See: woolly Labrador tea

Quotations

1955

The most widespread flowering shrub in Canada is in all probability that known as Labrador Tea. There are two varieties of this plant but the one best known in the Canadian Rockies is that known as Woolly Labrador tea, the glossy leaves having a rusty-red wool on the underside.