170 



Bulletin 145 



rolled back. The twigs also are peculiar in being two-edged. 

 The flowers are showy, lilac-purple, one-half inch in diameter. 

 They form showy clusters making the plant conspicuous and at- 

 tractive when in flower alxnit the first of June. 



MOUNTAIN LAUKEL. Kalmia latifolia L. 

 This most beautiful shrub is the laurel of southern New 

 England, but in Vermont, unfortunately, it occurs native only in 

 southern valleys. It is known by a variety of popular names ; 

 broad-leaved laurel, to contrast "it with the other two ; calico- 

 bush, from its showy rose and white blossoms ; spoonwood, from 

 the use of its wood by the Indians for carving into spoons. 

 Clanioun was the Indian name. The poisonous nature of this 

 plant has already been discussed ; fortunately, however, where its 

 character is understood this is easily guarded against, hence 

 there is no necessity to wage war on this beautiful plant. On 

 the other hand, since it is easily transplanted, it deserves t(j be 

 used far more than it is as an ornamental shrub. 



Ledum grocnlandicum Oed. 



This is a straggling, branching 

 shrub of one to four feet in height. 

 It is of frequent occurrence in Ver- 

 mont in cold peaty bogs and wet 

 mountain woods, preferring sandy 

 soil. It is typically a northern 

 plant as witnessed by its name. It 

 has most curious leaves, thick 

 and leathery with margins rolled 

 strongly backward, dark green 

 above and densely covered below 

 with woolly hair which may be 

 white on the youngest shoots but is 

 rusty brown on the mature leaves. 

 Since these hairs are nature's 

 Labrador Tea. device to check the loss of water, it 



Flowering branch, X %. seems strange that a bog plant 



LABRADOR TLA. 



