286 



Ericacece A za lea. 



Leaves Persistent. 



The species belonging to this division are not so hardy as 

 the foregoing, and usually treated as greenhouse plants. They 

 are usually of smaller more compact growth. The Indian 

 Azaleas have sprung from A. Indica (fig. 160), and some other 

 species or natural varieties introduced from China. Some of 

 these forms, as A. liliiftora (fig. 161), are said to be quite 

 hardy. 



9. KALMIA. 



Evergreen , shrubs usually of small stature and compact 

 habit. Leaves alternate, entire. Flowers solitary or corymbose, 

 hemispherical or broadly campanulate. This genus is remark- 

 able for having projecting cavities in the corolla holding the 

 stamens until they are mature, when the slightest touch of the 

 filaments will release them and cause the anthers to discharge 

 their pollen. There are about half-a-dozen species, all natives 

 of North America. This genus was named in honour of a 

 Swedish botanist. 



1. K. latifolia (fig. 162). Calico Bush, Mountain Laurel. 



This is the handsomest of 

 the group, having shining 

 alternate foliage of a pleas- 

 ing verdure, and dense 

 clusters of exquisitely ele- 

 gant delicate pink, rose or 

 nearly white flowers, pro- 

 duced from May to July. 



2. K. angustifolia. Sheep 

 Laurel or Lambkill. In 

 this species the leaves are 

 usually opposite or in 

 threes, and narrower, and 

 the flowers are of a deeper 



-colour and smaller, than in 

 the last. 



3. K. ylauca.A strag- 

 gling shrub with com- 

 pressed 2- edged branches and nearly sessile glaucous leaves 

 with revolute margins. Corymbs few-flowered; flowers lilac- 

 purple, produced in April. K. hirsuta has hairy leaves and soli- 

 tary axillary rosy flowers. This shrub grows about a foot high. 



Fig. 162. Kalmia latffolia. (J nat. size.) 



