Genus KALMIA, Linn. 



Ericaceae. Decandria Monogynia. 



St/St. Nat. Syst. Lin. 



Derivation. Named by Linnxus in honour of Peter Kalni, professor at Abo, in Sweden ; author of " Travels in America,' 

 in 1753. 



Generic Characters. Corolla of the shape of a wide-spread bell, and with 10 cavities on the inside, in 

 which the anthers of 10 stamens repose before shedding their pollen. Capsule 5-celled. Dissepiments 

 marginal. Don, Miller^s Diet. 



^HE genus Kalmia consists of low evergreen shrubs, highly orna- 

 mental in their foliage and flowers ; natives of North America ; of 

 easy culture in peaty soil, and propagated by layers, seeds, or by 

 cuttings. Most, if not all the species are accounted poisonous, and 

 honey collected by bees from their flowers is of a deleterious 

 nature. The leaves of the shrub called "Lamb-kill," or "Sheep 

 Laurel," (Kalmia angustifolia.) is highly poisonous to sheep and lambs, often 

 causing their death when eaten by them, particularly the latter. Hence the 

 name. 



To the same natural family belong the various species of heath (Erica, Gyp- 

 socallis, Calluna, etc.) ; also the several kinds of strawberry-trees (Arbutus) ; whor- 

 tleberries (Vaccinium) ; and several genera of procumbent and trailing shrubs, 

 among which are the common bearberry, (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi,) the partridge- 

 berry or winter-green, (Gaultheria procumbens,) the Labrador tea, (Ledum lati- 

 foliiMn,) and the common marsh cranberry (Oxycoccus palustris.) 



