LE DUM LATIFO'LIUM. 
BROAD-LEAVED LEDUM. 
Class. Order. 
DECANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
RHODORACEiE. 
Native of 
Height 
Flowers in 
Duration 
Introduced 
N. America. 
2 feet. 
April, May. 
Perennial. 
in 1763. 
No. 227. 
The Greek word ledon, was originally used to 
distinguish a shrub which produced an odoriferous 
gum, called ladanum, or the labdanum of commerce ; 
a gum which the ancients held in high estimation ; 
and if good, it is observed by an old writer, “It 
should have a wild and savage smell.” The shrub 
alluded to, is supposed to be the cistus creticus of 
modern botanists. The name Ledum, was probably 
applied, by Linneus,to the present genus, on account 
of these plants possessing some similiar qualities. 
Latifolium, from the Latin latus, broad ; and folium, 
a leaf. 
This species of Ledum, forms a very pretty little 
standard evergreen shrub, of compact growth ; and 
as each branch is terminated by a neat corymb of 
white flowers, the whole plant, in spring, presents one 
beautiful bouquet. It is equally well adapted to the 
flower garden and the shrubbery ; and when planted 
in the latter of these, a situation should be chosen 
where it will neither be lost by distance, nor over- 
grown by larger subjects. 
Its young leaves, examined in the summer, through 
a microscope, will be seen to be studded, on their 
