ERICACEAE 



inches long; above dark green, beneath light green; obtuse 

 or sometimes acute at the apex, narrowed at the base; 

 petioled. 



THE FLOWERS: numerous in lateral, compound or simple 

 corymbs; sepals ovate, acute, hoary with whitish hairs, 

 persistent. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule, globose, depressed, five-lobed, hoary 

 with whitish hairs. 



The Sheep Laurel is stiff and small and unattractive com- 

 pared with the handsome and popular Mountain Laurel 

 (Kalmia latifolia). The principal resemblance is in the 

 shape of the small crimson pink flower, which is also bowl- 

 shaped with sharp ridges at the back. The leaves of the 

 Sheep Laurel are evergreen, dull olive and drooping. 



The plant is perennial. One often finds two or even 

 three clusters of winter-dried calyx below the season's 

 bloom, representing fruit of former years. 



It is poisonous to cattle. This has given rise to the 

 popular names of Lambkill, Sheep-poison, and Calfkill. 



From the plant is obtained a valuable drug. 



ERICACEAE HEATH FAMILY 



Lyonia ligustrina, (L.) DC. 



White Male Berry, 



Privet Andromeda, 



May- July White Alder, 



Pepper Bush, 

 White-wood, 

 Seedy Buckberry. 



Lyonia: named for John Lyon, an early American botanist 



and explorer of the southern Alleghenies. 

 Ligustrina: Latin for privet. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: thickets, on the border of ponds. 



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