90 TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



eastward as far as the middle coastal plain. Its eas- 

 tern limit as far as we know is Selma, where we 

 have found it at an elevation of less than 100 feet. 



149. Kalmia latifolia L. Mountain Laurel, Ivy. 



A shrub or small tree with smaller, narrower 

 leaves than Rhododendron, and with smaller, saucer- 

 shaped flowers which are provided with curious pock- 

 ets for the anthers. It is extremely abundant in the 

 mountains and extends along the bluffs of rivers all 

 the way down to the coast (Wilmington) . The leaves 

 are poisonous when eaten and will kill cattle. The 

 Indians are said to have sometimes committed sui- 

 cide with them (Bull. T. B. C. 12:53. 1885). 

 In cultivation this is fine and should be more used 

 along shaded banks. Examples : Plentiful along Mor- 

 gan's Creek above Pittsboro road crossing. Dates of 

 flowering: May 10, 1903; May 10, 1909; May 16, 

 1910; May 11, 1915 ; May 14, 1916. Our two other 

 species of Kalmia, K. angustifolia and K. cunea,ta f 

 are small shrubs. 



EBONY FAMILY 

 (EBENACEAE) 



150. Diospyros virginiana L. Persimmon. 



This very common tree is too well known to need 

 description. It extends from the lower mountains to 

 the sea, but is most plentiful in the upper coastal 

 plain and lower Piedmont. The flowers are of two 

 sorts, male and female, and are borne on different 

 trees. The male trees are barren, the females bear 



