278 ERICACEAE. 
Katmi1a. American Laurel. 
(Family Ericaceae). 
Small trees or mostly shrubs: 
evergreen. Twigs moderate or 
slender: pith small, rounded, con- 
tinuous. Buds minute, naked or 
with 2 small green scales, soli- 
tary, sessile, the end-bud abortive. 
Leaf-sears clustered at end of the 
season’s growth, variously alter- 
nate or opposite or in whorls of 
3, half-round or shield-shaped, 
sometimes raised for a time by a 
finally deciduous base, or sunken: 
bundle-trace a transverse line: 
stipule-scars lacking. The small 
subglobose 5-celled capsules are 
persistent in winter. (Includes 
Kalmiella). 
Kalmia is reputed among the 
most poisonous of the Ericaceae. 
For an analysis of the subject, 
with bibliography, reference may 
be made to Pammel’s Manual of Poisonous Plants. The 
woody genera listed there as containing poisonous or medici- 
nal properties are Andromeda, Arctostaphylos, Calluna, Epi- 
gaea, Erica, Gaultheria, Kalmia, Ledum, Lecothde, Lyonia, 
Rhododendron and Vaccinium. 
1. Large shrubs or small trees: leaves large. (1). K. latifolia. 
Small shrubs: buds with 2 scales. 2. 
2. Twigs 2-edged: leaves opposite. (2). K. polifolia. 
Twigs terete. 3. 
3. Leaves mostly in whorls of 2 or 3. (3). K. angustifolia. 
Leaves alternate. 4. 
4. Twigs glandular-hairy. (Kalmiella). K. hirsuta. 
Twigs hisute, not glandular. K. cuneata. 
