Name: |
- Chamaedaphne, from the Greek camaidafnh
(chamaidaphne), the name for the common Periwinkle (Vinca
herbacea), a compound of camai
(chamai) "on the ground" and dafnh
(daphne), the name for the Sweet Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis),
hence "ground laurel", perhaps from the similarity of the
dark evergreen leaves to those of the Bay.
- calyculata, diminutive form from the Greek kalux
(kalux), "husk, covering, calyx", hence "with little calyx"
- Common Name, from the tough, evergreen leaf
- Other common names include Cassandra, Finnmyrten (Swe), Finnmyrt
(Nor), Læderløv (Dan), Vaivero (Finn),
Chamedafne pó³nocna (Pol)
|
Taxonomy: |
- Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
- Division Magnoliophyta, the Angiosperms (flowering plants)
- Class Magnoliopsida, the Dicotyledons
- Subclass Dilleniidae
- Taxonomic Serial Number: 23637
- Also known as Andromeda calyculata, Cassandra calyculata,
Chamaepericlymenum canadensis
|
Description: |
- A low, evergreen, rhizomatous shrublet, 12"- 48" [Photo]
- Leaves leathery, simple, alternate, and more-or-less
evenly spaced on branch. Leaf blade symmetrical, ¾"-1½"
long, ¼"-¾" wide; upper surface bright yellow
green; lower surface dark orange yellow.
- Stem woody
- Branches many, forming dense thickets.
- Rhizome woody, extends an average of 12" into
organic matter
- Roots fibrous
- Flowers tiny white bell shaped in one-sided racemes
of 1-15 or more
- Sepals 5, white or orange
- Petals 5, white
- Stamens 10
- Pistils single
- Ovary superior (within blossom)
- Fruit persistent, many-seeded capsules
- Seed tiny (1mm or less) wedge-shaped, yellowish orange
|
Identification: |
- Identifiable as an Ericaceous bog shrub by its shape, size, and habitat
- Distinguished from other bog shrubs by its bright, smooth edged, yellow
green, and leathery leaf
- Field Marks
- Wetland habitat
- Bright yellow green leaf
|
Distribution: |
- Circumboreal; Northern North America southward through the Lake States
and the northeastern US
|
Habitat: |
- A dominant shrub in dwarf shrub wetland communities, occurring in
pure stands on floating mats and in mixed stands that are grounded.
Forms the most extensive communities in the bogs of the Lake States.
- A true bog species found in practically all boreal
bogs; occurs in lowland sites, treed or treeless bogs, peatlands,
sedge fens and meadows, black spruce muskegs, and kettle pond edges.
Commonly occurs in drier areas on sedge mats that may be floating or
in wet peat up to 43' thick.
- Sites are often poorly drained or have standing water. Acid tolerant
and usually occurring where the pH is less than 5; it needs acidic conditions
to become dominant.
- First shrub to enter a bog after sphagnum is established. Leatherleaf
is characteristic of the mature and late stages of moss/low ericaceous
shrub communities as open water in a bog disappears. It may dominate
for 50 years in some communities. Shade intolerant;
it begins to thin as tall shrubs or bog forest species such as Tamarack
(Larix laricina) or Black
Spruce (Picea mariana)
become established.
- Bogs, swamps, lake and stream margins, inland poor fens, and dwarf
shrub bogs. The dominant species in shrub associations on some bogs.
It usually grows on wet sphagnum mats over water. The soil is wet (or
occasionally dry) peat with a pH of 4.5-6.
|
Fire: |
- Probably survives severe fires because rhizomes are deep in water-saturated
substrates and its stems are matted in debris. Surviving root crowns
and rhizomes sprout.
|
Associates: |
|
History: |
- A tea was made from fresh and dried leaves by the Ojibwe
|
Uses: |
|
Reproduction: |
- Reproduces by seed and vegetatively by rhizomes.
- Flowers from March to July from buds formed the previous season.
- Moist sphagnum surrounding leatherleaf shoots, roots, and rhizomes
causes vigorous vegetative growth. Sphagnum grows on leatherleaf stems
and branches but does not inhibit growth. Ice breakage can result in
rapid expansion of colonies. It also establishes well in windfall areas.
- Primarily fertilized by Adrena and Bombus bees.
Seed set usually high (50-95%) when insect pollinated; low seed set
(1-15%) when self-pollinated. Seeds germinate on sphagnum or sedge mats.
- Fruits develop in late summer and fall
|
Propagation: |
- By division in Fall or by branch layering. Also by stem cuttings.
- Propagation by seed is possible, but difficult. Seeds require cold
stratification to break dormancy
|
Cultivation: |
- Hardy to USDA Zone 2 (average minimum annual temperature -50ºF)
- Cultural Requirements
- Sun full
- Soil wet to moist and acidic (pH 4.5 -5); preferably peaty or
lime-free sandy loam.
- Will not tolerate dry or shady conditions
- Size 2'-4'W x 2'-4'H
- Good for native rock gardens, bog gardens
- Available by mail order though not common.
|
Links: |
|
Comments: |
- Leatherleaf is easily the most commonly encountered bog shrub in the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area. If you've been there you've seen it.
|
|
Last updated on
27 August, 2004
|
