Western bog (swamp) laurel: A 10-50 cm tall perennial shrub which often forms mats. It spreads by branches putting out roots into the soil and by short rhizomes. The leaves are linear 1-4 cm long and dark green hairless above, and grayish with very fine, dense glandular white hairs below. The flowers are 1-2 cm broad, 5 petalled, deep pink, and are clustered at the ends of the stems. Flowers in early spring. The seed capsules are 2-3 mm long and split upon drying to disperse seeds. Leaves contain a poison. Plant can be easily confused with Labrador tea when not in flower. Note the white-grey underside of the leaf in Bog Laurel.