ALPINE KALMIA 



B87 



(2 leaves) 



Kal'mia microphyl'la, syns. K. glau'ca microphyl'la, K. polifo'lia microphyl'la 



"A" in the picture below represents the larger, coarser, longer- and broader-leaved bog 

 kalmia (K. polifolia, syn. K. glauca), of which some botanists hold alpine kalmia to be 

 a depauperate variety. 



Flowers rose-purple to bluish purple, 

 stalked, borne in umbrella-shaped clus- 

 ters at ends of sterna 



United petals (corolla) saucer-shaped, 

 up to about K in. across, 5-lobed 



Stamens 10; anthers fitting in de- 

 pressions until liberated by elastic 

 stalks 



Outer flower parts (sepals) 5, pur- 

 plish, egg-shaped, united at base, per- 

 sistent 



Leaves evergreen, opposite, short- 

 stalked or stalkless, up to 1 in. long, 

 elliptic-oblong to oval, but appearing, 

 narrow because of the rolled-under 

 edges, dark green above, velvety-white 

 beneath 



Seed pod (capsule) 5-celled, flattened- 

 globe-shaped, with 5 pouch-shaped 

 valves, each valve splitting about 

 halfway down the back 



Stems woody, somewhat sprawling or 

 creeping, with rather short, upright, 

 leafy branches 



Kootstocks -underground, thickened 



Alpine kalmia, often called dwarf or alpine bog kalmia, is a low 

 evergreen shrub, usually 4 to 12 inches high, inhabiting cold, acid, 

 subalpine areas from Alaska to Colorado and California. Despite 

 its wide range, this plant is relatively uncommon, being limited to 



