232 DICTIOlSrARY OF POPULAR NAMES KALMIA 



vated in gardens, and its young stalks wlien blanched form in 

 early spring a wliolesome vegetable. Kale is also a name given 

 to certain loose-leaved varieties of Cabbage, such as Long 

 Kale, Scotch Kale, etc. 



Kalmia, a familiar botanical name for a genus of beautiful 

 evergreen shrubs of the Heath family (Ericaceae), native of 

 North America, and now common in gardens in this country. 

 K. latifolia possesses the poisonous properties common to many 

 of the Heath family. The honey made from its flowers is 

 poisonous, as also the flesh of game that feed on its berries. In 

 1790 great mortality took place at Philadelphia, which was 

 ascertained to be caused by eating honey from, and game that 

 had fed on, Kalmia berries. The fatality led to a public pro- 

 clamation prohibiting the use of either game or honey. 



Kamala, a name in India for the dust-like hairs that cover 

 the capsules of Mallotus pJiilippinensis, better known as BoUlerci 

 tinctoria, a tree of the Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), common 

 throughout the Madras Presidency. When ripe the powder is 

 shaken off the capsules ; it is of a red colour, and forms a con- 

 siderable article of trade in Hyderabad and other parts of the 

 Circars, and is also imported into this country. It is used for 

 dyeing silk a beautiful orange colour, and by a different process 

 produces a scarlet. 



Kambala, a name in Calcutta for Somieratia apetala, a tree 

 of the Myrtle family (Myrtaceae), growing abundantly in the 

 Sunderbunds. Its wood is red, and is chiefly used in Calcutta 

 for making boxes for packing beer and wine, and for house- 

 building. 



Kangaroo Grass (AntMstiria australis), a perennial grass, 

 native of Australia, where it occupies vast tracts, and is exten- 

 sively used for feeding cattle. 



Karaka and Kopi, names given by the natives of New 

 Zealand to Corynocarpus IcBvigahis, a handsome tree of the 

 Cashew Nut family (Anacardiacese). It is said to attain a 

 height of 40 to 50 feet, having smooth, broad, laurel-like leaves, 

 with small white flowers in clusters. The fruit is oblong, about 



