256 



DESCHIPTIONS OF THE SHRUBS 



^dlmia. The Kalmias or American 'Laurels ' are among the most 



beautiful shrubs in cultivation. About all are hardy throughout and 



should be cultivated much more generally than they are. The special 



peculiarities of the Kalmias are in the flowers, which are cup-shaped with 



ten hollows in which the anthers are 

 held till released by the action of 

 insects. The leaves are entire, and 

 alternate, opposite, or whorled in 

 an-angement on the stem. 



So many evergreen plants, of 

 many families, both in America and 

 Europe are called laurels that it 

 would be better to drop it as a name 

 unless some distinctive modifier can 

 fix upon the plant intended. "The 

 flower of Kalmia is one of those 

 proposed as a national flower emblem, 

 especially on account of the exquisite 

 symmetrical beauty of the single 

 flower." Kalmia is a purely Ameri- 

 can genus and deserves 

 a distinctive name. The 

 best plan would be to 

 always call these Ameri- 

 can plants Kalmias. 



They are less particular about soil and position than the hardy 



Rhododendron, growing well in sandy and loamy 



soils and especially thriving in damp shady places. 

 Bkoad-leaved Kalmia, Mountain 'Laukel,' 



or Calico Bush (43.3) — Kalmia latifdlia — is gen- 

 erally a shrub 4 to 10 feet high, though sometimes a 



tree to 30 feet, with a rounded head and evergreen, 



alternate (or irregularly whorled), entire, glossy 



leaves 3-4 inches long. The flowers are white or 



rose-colored in large terminal clusters. May and 



June. The individual flowers are about J inch 



broad. 



Narrow-leaved Kalmia, Sheep ' Laurel,' 



Lambkill or Wicky (434) — Kdlmia angustifblia — 



is alow shrub, 1 to 3 feet high, with usually narrow 



evergreen, opposite (or whorled in threes) leaves 



1 to 2J inches long. The flowers are of many shades of red to purple in lateral 



clusters, June and July. The individual flowers are nearly J in,ch broad. 



Fig. 433. — Pale Kalmia. 



Fig. 436. — Hairy 

 Kalmia. 



