LAUREL. IVY. 67 



polish, and is used for the handles of tools, bearings of machin- 

 ery, etc. 



Kalmia latifolia, Linn?eus. 



(laurel, ivy. wicky.) 



A small evergreen tree, with short crooked branches, and dark 

 reddish-brown furrowed bark, the narrow ridges separating into 

 long scales. It reaches a height of 40 feet and a diameter of 20 

 inches. 



It occurs in rich woodlands from New Brunswick and Lake 

 Erie to western Florida, and through the Gulf states to western 

 Louisiana and the valley of the Red river, Arkansas ; reaching its 

 best development in the southern Alleghany mountains, where it 

 often forms dense impenetrable thickets. 



In this State, where it grows to an average height of 10 to 15 

 feet, it is most abundant in the mountains, but occurs in the Pied- 

 mont plateau, and extends into the coastal plain region. 



The laurel bears seed every year, and for the most part in 

 abundance. Young seedlings, in all stages of growth, are com- 

 mon in moist open places in the mountain region, and above 3,000 

 feet on rather dry soil. The fires which are frequent on these dry 

 ridges are very destructive to both young and old plants, but the 

 laurel sprouts so freely from the stump that it often takes exclu- 

 sive possession of areas subject to repeated fires. 



The evergreen leaves are thick, smooth, entire, acute at the 

 apex and contracted at the base. The white or pink flowers are 

 produced in conspicuous clusters at the ends of the branches, and 

 the rounded fruit set with sticky hairs is ripe in September. The 

 winter-buds are small, oblong, and greenish. The roots consist of 

 many large knots and burls, from which strong lateral roots 

 diverge. 



The wood is heavy, hard, strong, brittle, close-grained, and com- 

 pact, brown in color ; the sapwood somewhat lighter, and the 

 broad medullary rays darker. It takes a good polish, and is used 

 for the handles of tools, in turnery, and for fuel. The leaves, 

 from which an ointment is made, are supposed to be poisonous to 

 cattle. The root-burls, sometimes called ivy grubs, are used in 



