Kalmia angustifolia

Sheep-laurel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Kalmia
Species: K. angustifolia
Binomial name
Kalmia angustifolia
L.

Kalmia angustifolia is a flowering shrub in the family Ericaceae, commonly known as sheep laurel. It is distributed in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec south to Virginia. It grows commonly in dry habitats in the boreal forest, and may become dominant over large areas after fire or logging.[1] Like many plant species of infertile habitats it has evergreen leaves and mycorrhizal associations with fungi.[2] It is also found in drier area of peat bogs.

Description

The attractive small, deep crimson-pink flowers are produced in early summer. Each has five sepals, with a corolla of five fused petals, and ten stamens fused to the corolla. They are pollinated by bumble bees and solitary bees. Each mature capsule contains about 180 seeds.[3]

In the wild the plant may vary in height from 15–90 cm (6–35 in). New shoots arise from dormant buds on buried rhizomes. This process is stimulated by fire.[4] The narrow evergreen leaves, pale on the underside, have a tendency to emerge from the stem in groups of three. A peculiarity of the plant is that clusters of leaves usually terminate the woody stem, for the flowers grow in whorls or in clusters below the stem apex.[5]

Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use, of which K. angustifolia f. rubra[6] has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Toxicity

Many wild plants contain chemicals poisonous to wild animals.[7] One of these in Kalmia is a glycoside known as andromedotoxin. Hence, it can be unwelcome in pastures. Several of its folk-names testify to the plant's toxicity: 'lamb-kill', 'sheep kill', 'calf-kill', 'pig laurel' and 'sheep-poison'.[8] It is also known as narrow-leaved laurel and dwarf laurel.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Weetman, G. F. 1983. Forestry practices and stress on Canadian forest land. pp. 260–301. In W. Simpson-Lewis, R. McKechnie, and V. Neimanis (eds.) Stress on Land in Canada. Ottawa: Lands Directorate, Environment Canada.
  2. ↑ Keddy, P.A. 2007. Plants and Vegetation: Origins, Processes, Consequences.Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 666 p.
  3. ↑ Hall, I. V., Jackson, L. P. and Everett, C. F. 1973. The biology of Canadian weeds. 1. Kalmia angustifolia L. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 53: 865–873.
  4. ↑ Hall, I. V., Jackson, L. P. and Everett, C. F. 1973. The biology of Canadian weeds. 1. Kalmia angustifolia L. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 53: 865–873.
  5. ↑ Blanchan, Neltje. 1917. Wild Flowers Worth Knowing Doubleday, New York.Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
  6. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Kalmia angustifolia f. rubra". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  7. ↑ Keddy, P.A. 2007. Plants and Vegetation: Origins, Processes, Consequences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 666 p.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "USDA GRIN Taxonomy".