KALMIA. 157 



learner will recognize their generic characters in the sketch 

 already given, and write in his Plant Kecord the distinguish- 

 ing specific characters of each as he finds them. Their 

 names are as follows : 



K. angustifolia, the narrow-leaved, called Sheep-poison, with oppo- 

 site leaves and lateral umbels. 



K. cuneidta, the wedge-shaped-leaved, growing South. 

 K. glauca, the glaucous or sea-green ; with 2-edged twigs. 

 K. Mrsuta, the hairy ; with very small leaves. South. 



'Po22enizatton . The curious action of the stamens in 

 these plants is worthy of special attention. When the flower 

 first opens, the stamens are confined with their anthers in as 

 many little pockets of the corolla, and consequently the elas- 

 tic filaments bend backward away from the style, which stands 

 erect in their midst. The anther containing the pollen grains 

 has, like the Pyrolas, 2 porous openings at the top. A touch 

 or sudden jar will liberate the anthers, when they instantly 

 rebound against the style, discharging their pollen toward 

 the stigma.* 



Classification. The genus Kalmia, with the three pre- 

 ceding, represent the large and interesting Order of the 

 Heathworts, or ERICACE^.J They are not homogeneous, like 



* It has been observed that the stamens do not spontaneously free themselves, but 

 await some external force, as a gust of wind, a falling twig, or rain-drop. But the 

 special agent in this service is the bee in quest of honey. The rustling of its wings, the 

 thrusting its proboscis into the cavity at the base of the stamens where the nectar is 

 secreted, sets them free. In this case the pollen shot from the rebounding stamens 

 will be discharged upon the body of the insect, and thus carried to the stigma of the 

 next flower which it may visit. 



The thoughtful student will here inquire, u Why must the pollen be lodged upon 

 the stigma at all ? " a question which we are preparing to answer. 



t The Order takes its name from its principal genus, Erica, the Heaths or Heath- 

 ers, a genus of not fewer than 400 species of delicate evergreen shrubs, with small 

 narrow leaves and 4-parted gamopetalous flowers, natives of Europe and S. Africa. 

 In Scotland, the luxuriant Heather is a characteristic feature of the landscape. It covers 

 wide tracts of country so closely as to prevent all other vegetation, and often grows 

 high enough to hide a man standing erect. Different species are the badges of different 

 families, and a plant that is so serviceable is well worthy of being a Highland badge. 

 Many a mountaineer sleeps on a couch of Heather boughs ; makes his cabin of 

 Heather and a mortar of straw and earth ; thatches his roof with Heather, which 

 Jie binds down with a rope of twisted Heather | and burns for his only fuel the 



