ERICACE^. 234 RHODODENDRON. 



7. KA'LMIA. 



Calyx 5-parted ; corolla with 10 prominences beneath and 

 10 corresponding cavities within, including the 10 anthers j 

 border 5-lobed ; capsule 5-celled, many-seeded. 



Named by Linnaus in honor of Peter Kalm, prof, at Abo. Finland. A 

 genus of beautiful shrubs, native of the U. States. Lvs. entire, evergreen, 

 coriaceous. Fls. in racemose corymbs, white and red. Cor. between wlieel- 

 forni and salver-form. Stam. curving outwards, the anthers confined in the 

 19 cavities until, at length, being liberated, they spring forcibly against the 

 stigma. 



1. K. latifo'lia. 



Leaves alternate and ternate, oval-lanceolate, acute at each end, smooth 

 and green on both sides; corymbs terminal, viscidly pubescent. One of our 

 most beautiful shrubs, sometimes attaining the hight of a small tree. It is 

 found in all the Atlantic Slates from Maine to Georgia. The woodi.? usually 

 very crooked, fine-grained and compact. The leaves are 2 — 3 inches long, 

 smooth and sliining, acute at each end and entire. In May and June it puts 

 forth from the summits of the branches, its splendid corymbs of flowers, which 

 are white, or variously tinged with red, and so abundant as sometimes almost 

 to cover the whole busli. The corolla has a short tube with a spreading limb 

 3-4 inch in diameter and a 5-lobed margin. Grows in woods, often on rocky 

 soils. Leaves narcotic, and poisonous to some animals. Mountain Laurd. 



2. K. angustifo'lia. 



Leaves ternate and opposite, elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse at each end, smooth ; 

 coripnlis lateral ; bracts linear-lanceolate. A beautiful little shiub, smaller 

 than the foregoing, 2 — 4 feet in higlit. The leaves are acurately and narrowly 

 elliptic, with rounded ends, entire, smooth, 1 — 2 inches long and a third as 

 wide, on short petioles. The flowers are of a deep purple, growing in small, 

 axillary fascicles and apparently whorled among the leaves, in structure re- 

 sembling those of the last species, but about half as large. Bracts minute, 

 about 3 at the base of each pedicel. This is also said to be poisonous to cattle. 

 Low, wet grounds. June. Sheep-poison. jXarrow-lcaved LaiireL 



3. K. GLAUCA. 



Branches ancipitous; leaves opposite, subsessile, lanceolate, polished, 

 glaucous beneath, revolute at the margin; ro?-?/;/?//.? terminal, the peduncles 

 and bracts smooth. A delicate shrub, "2 feet high, found in swamps, «&c. 

 Stem slender, the branches rendered distinctly 2-cdged by an elevated ridge 

 extending from the base ot each opposite leaf to the next node below. Leaves 

 smooth and shining, white underneath, about an inch in length. Flowers 

 8 — 10 in each corymb. Corolla about half an inch in diameter, pale purple. 

 Calyx red, as is also the very slender peduncle. At the foot of each peduncle 

 is a pair of concave, obtuse bracts. June. Glaucous luilmia. Swamp Laurel. 



/3. rosmarinifolia ; leaves linear, more revolute, green beneath. 



8. RIIODODE'NDRON. 

 Calvx Scleft ; corolla somewhat funnel-form or campanu- 

 late, limb variously 5-c!eft or lobed (raiely equal); stamens 

 5—10, declined, (rarely erect); anther.s opening by 2 terminal 

 pores ; capsule 5-ce!!ed, 5-valvcd, opening at the summit. 



