Kalmia. ERICACEAE. 441 



acute. Corolla about an inch in diameter, varying from deep rose-color to almost white, with 

 a short tube and wide spreading border ; the under surface marked with ten prominences 

 or short horns, which present corresponding pits or little pockets on the inside. Stamens 

 declinate ; filaments smooth : anthers ovate, at first lodged in the pits of the corolla, but at 

 length liberated elastically at different times, by which means the pollen is thrown upon the 

 stigma. Style slender, straight : stigma capitate. Capsule depressed-globose, pubescent, 

 thick and coriaceous. Seeds oblong ; the testa rather loose. 



Rocky hills and woods ; often forming almost impenetrable thickets. I have not observed 

 this plant north of Troy, and it is scarce in the western counties. Dr. Knieskern found it 

 near Oriskany. Fl. Latter part of May and June. Fr. September. In favorable situations, 

 the stem of this shrub acquires a diameter of 3 or 4 inches. The wood (particularly that of 

 the roots) is hard and very compact, and is sometimes used as a substitute for box. The 

 leaves are said to be poisonous to cattle. A decoction of the plant is a popular remedy for 

 some cutaneous diseases. 



2. Kalmia angustifolia, Linn. Dioarf Laurel. Sheep Laurel. 



Branches terete ; leaves petiolate, narrowly elliptical, flat, rather obtuse, nearly smooth on 

 both sides, often slightly ferruginous underneath ; corymbs lateral ; (flowers small) pedicels 

 and calyx glandular-pubescent. — Linn. sp. l.p.391 ; Bot. mag. t. 331 ; Michx. fl. \.p. 257; 

 Pursh,fl. \.p. 296 ; Ell. sk. I. p. 482 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 169 ; Torr.fl. 1. p. 422 ; Lodd. 

 bot. cab. t. 502 ; Beck, bot. p. 219 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 262 ; DC. prodr. 7. p. 729. 



A shrub 1-2 feet high. Leaves evergreen, about an inch long, mostly obtuse but often 

 rather acute ; when old, nearly or quite smooth on both sides ; but the younger ones slightly 

 pubescent, and a little rusty colored underneath. Flowers in small lateral corymbs, and thus 

 appearing verticillate , scarcely one-third the size of those of the preceding species, and of a 

 much deeper rose-color, but resembling them every way in structure. Segments of the calyx 

 ovate, acute. Capsule depressed-globose, pubescent. 



Low grounds ; common on Long Island and near New-York, but not often seen in the 

 interior of the State. Fl. June - July. Fr. September. This plant is believed to kill sheep 

 and other animals. In some places it is called Sheep-poison, Lamb-kill, and Lamb Laurel. 



3. Kalmia glauca, Ait. Swa?np Laurel. 



Branches ancipital ; leaves opposite, nearly sessile, oblong, lanceolate or linear, smooth, 

 flat or with the margin revolute, glaucous underneath ; corymbs terminal ; pedicels and calyx 

 very smooth. — Ait. hort. Kew. (ed. 1.) 2. p. 64. t. 8 ; Lam. ill. t. 363./. 2 ; Bot. mag. t. 296; 

 Lodd. bot. cab. t. 1508 ; Michx. fl. \.p. 257 ; Pursh, fl. \. p. 296 {and var. rosmarinifolia); 

 Torr.fl. 1. p. 425 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 170 ; Beck, bot. p. 219 ; DC. prodr. 7. p. 729. K. 

 polifolia, Wang. act. nat. Berol. 8. p. 129. /. 5. 



A shrub 12-18 inches high ; the branches distinctly ancipital. Leaves 1-2 inches long, 

 and varying from nearly half an inch to scarcely a line and a half wide, mostly obtuse, dark 

 green and shining above, whitish and dull underneath, with a very prominent midrib ; the 

 [Flora.] 56 



