ERICACEAE. 



781. Ledum palustre Linn.fi. lapp. 160, has similar properties. 



KALMIA. 



Calyx 5-leaved, small, equal, herbaceous. Corolla cyathiform 

 with an angular very open limb, having 10 niches in its sides, 

 within which the points of the anthers are held fast before 

 flowering, but from which they are gradually liberated as the 

 process of fertilization goes on. Capsules 5-celled, with a sep- 

 ticidal dehiscence. 



782. K. latifolia Linn. sp. pi 560. Bot. Mag. 1. 175. Mich, 

 arbres. forest, iii. 147. t. 5. Bigel. med. hot. i. t. 13. Common 

 in various parts of the United States ; (Laurel, Lambkill, Ivy, 

 Spoonwood, Calico-bush, Mountain laurel). 



Height generally that of a shrub, sometimes however attaining the 

 altitude of a small tree. Leaves irregularly alternate, evergreen, 

 coriaceous, very smooth, with the under side somewhat paler, oval, 

 acute and entire. Flowers varying from white to red ; in terminal 

 simple or compound corymbs, with opposite branches. Pedicels glu- 

 tinous, pubescent, with ovate, acuminate bracts. Calyx small, 5-parted, 

 persistent, with oval acute segments. Corolla monopetalous, with a 

 conical tube, a cyathiform limb, and an erect shallowly 5-lobed margin ; 

 at the circumference of the limb on the inside are 10 niches or pits, 

 accompanied with corresponding prominences on the outside ; in these 

 depressions the anthers are found lodged at the time when the flower 

 expands. Stamens hypogynous, bent outwardly, so as to lodge their 

 anthers in the niches of the corolla, but liberating them during the 

 period of flowering and striking against the sides of the stigma. 

 Ovary roundish ; style longer than the corolla and declinate ; stigma 

 obtuse. Capsule roundish, depressed, 5-celled, and 5-valved, with 

 numerous small seeds. Leaves poisonous to many animals ; are 

 reputed to be narcotic, but their action is feeble and unimportant. 

 Bigelow states that the flesh of pheasants which have fed upon the 

 young shoots is poisonous to man, and some cases of severe illness are 

 on record which have been ascribed to this cause alone. The flowers 

 exude a sweet honey-like juice, which is said when swallowed to bring 

 on intoxication of a phrenitic kind, which is not only formidable in its 

 symptoms but very lengthened in its duration. Burnett. A brown 

 powder which adheres to the shoots acts as a sternutatory. 



GAULTHERIA. 



Calyx 5-cleft or 5-toothed, bibracteate at the base, after 

 flowering becoming large and succulent and covering the cap- 

 sule with a baccate coating. Corolla ovate, ventricose, with 

 a 5-cleft revolute border, transparent at the base. Sta- 

 mens 10, enclosed, with flat filaments ; anthers bifid at the apex ; 

 lobes biaristate. Hypogynous scales 10, usually united at the 

 base. Ovarium half inferior. Capsule 5-celled, with a loculi- 

 cidal dehiscence. 



380 



