XX. 10. THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL. 393 



extremity, very entire, polished above, somewhat reflexed at the 

 edge, with the mid-rib prominent, of a soft, leathery texture, 

 on footstalks one quarter or one third of their length. The 

 flowers are in terminal heads which crown the last year's 

 leaves, and consist of two or three stout stems proceeding from the 

 axil of as many leaves, and giving off from one to three pairs of 

 opposite branches. The partial flower -stalks are an inch or more 

 long, covered with glandular hairs. Each branch and partial 

 stalk has a short, pointed bract at its base, and a shorter ovate 

 one on each side. The calyx is persistent, of five, short, ovate, 

 pointed segments, covered with glutinous hairs, and green, 

 with colored tips, expanded till the corolla has fallen, after 

 which it embraces the ovary. The corolla is monopetalous ; 

 before opening it has the shape of a ten-angled casket ; on ex- 

 pansion it becomes salver- shaped, with a short tube and a bor- 

 der of five, triangular, raised lobes. The stamens are ten, with 

 white filaments, bent back and nestling their brown anthers in 

 little cavities in the side of the corolla. On being touched, they 

 escape with a spring and bend over, around the pistil. The 

 anthers open with tAvo oblique, terminal pores. The color of 

 the corolla varies from a pure white to a rich rose. The border 

 of the tube within is painted with a waving, rosy line, and there 

 is a delicate pencilling of purple above each depression for the 

 anthers. The ovary is round, green, with white, glandular 

 hairs, and an erect, club-shaped pistil, longer than the stamens, 

 and remaining after the corolla has fallen. The capsule is glob- 

 ular, imperfectly five-angled, set with glandular, glutinous hairs, 

 five-celled and five-valved, with numerous minute, compressed 

 seeds, attached to the central axis. 



The wood of the mountain laurel is very smooth, close- 

 grained and hard, and that of the root is marked with red lines. 

 It is substituted for box, is well adapted to the turner's use, and 

 for the engraver on wood, and is employed in making the han- 

 dles of small tools, screws, boxes, and musical instruments. 



Found in nearly all parts of the State, and from Canada to 

 Florida. Flowering in June and July. Easily cultivated in a 

 moist soil, and richly deserving a place in every American gar- 

 den. 



51 



