XX. 10. THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL. 393 
extremity, very entire, polished above, somewhat reflexed at the 
edge, with the mid-rib prominent, of a soft, leathery texture, 
on footstalks one quarter or one third of their length. 'The 
flowers are in terminal heads which crown the last year’s 
leaves, and consist of two or three stout stems proceeding from the 
axil of as many leaves, and giving off from one to three pairs of 
opposite branches. ‘lhe partial flower-stalks are an inch or more 
Jong, covered with glandular hairs. Each branch and partial 
stalk has a short, pointed bract at its base, and a shorter ovate 
one on each side. The calyx is persistent, of five, short, ovate, 
pointed segments, covered with glutinous hairs, and green, 
with colored tips, expanded till the corolla has fallen, after 
which it embraces the ovary. The corolla is monopetalous; 
before opening it has the shape of a ten-angled casket; on ex- 
pansion it becomes salver-shaped, with a short tube and a bor- 
der of five, triangular, raised lobes. The stamens are ten, with 
white filaments, bent back and nestling their brown anthers in 
little cavities in the side of the corolla. On being touched, they 
escape with a spring and bend over, around the pistil. The 
anthers open with two oblique, terminal pores. The color of 
the corolla varies from a pure white to a rich rose. The border 
of the tube within is painted with a waving, rosy line, and there 
is a delicate pencilling of purple above each depression for the 
anthers. The ovary is round, green, with white, glandular 
hairs, and an erect, club-shaped pistil, longer than the stamens, 
and remaining after the corolla has fallen. The capsule is glob- 
ular, imperfectly five-angled, set with glandular, glutinous hairs, 
five-celled and five-valved, with numerous minute, compressed 
seeds, attached to the central axis. 
The wood of the mountain laurel is very smooth, close- 
grained and hard, and that of the root is marked with red lines. 
It is substituted for box, is well adapted to the turner’s use, and 
for the engraver on wood, and is employed in making the han- 
dles of small tools, screws, boxes, and musical instruments. 
Found in nearly all parts of the State, and from Canada to 
Florida. Flowering in June and July. Easily cultivated in a 
moist soil, and richly deserving a place in every American gar- 
den. 
51 
