Genus KALMIA, Linn. 
Ericaceae. Decandria Monogynia. 
Syst. Nat. Syst. Lin. 
Derivation. Named by Linnasus in honour of Peter Kalm, professor at Abo, in Sweden ; author of " Travels in America,' 
in 1753. 
Generic Characters. Corolla of the shape of a wide-spread bell, and with 10 cavities on the inside, in 
which the anthers of 10 stamens repose before shedding their pollen. Capsule 5-celled. Dissepiments 
marginal. Don, Miller's Diet. 
lHE genus Kalmia consists of low evergreen shrubs, highly orna- 
mental in their foliage and flowers ; natives of North America ; of 
easy culture in peaty soil, and propagated by layers, seeds, or by 
cuttings. Most, if not all the species are accounted poisonous, and 
honey collected by bees from their flowers is of a deleterious 
nature. The leaves of the shrub called "Lamb-kill," or "Sheep 
Laurel," (Kalmia angustifolia,) is highly poisonous to sheep and lambs, often 
causing their death when eaten by them, particularly the latter. Hence the 
name. 
To the same natural family belong the various species of heath (Erica, Gyp- 
socallis, Calluna, etc.) ; also the several kinds of strawberry-trees (Arbutus) ; whor- 
tleberries (Vaccinium) ; and several genera of procumbent and trailing shrubs, 
among which are the common bearberry, (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi,) the partridge- 
berry or winter-green, (Gaultheria procumbens,) the Labrador tea, (Ledum lati- 
folitwn,) and the common marsh cranberry (Oxycoccus palustris.) 
