Kalmia angustifolia
Sheep-laurel | |
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File:Kalmia angustifolia Rubra.jpg | |
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K. angustifolia
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Binomial name | |
Kalmia angustifolia |
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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.[1] 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', 'sheep-laurel' and 'sheep-poison'.[8] It is also known as narrow-leaved laurel and dwarf laurel.[8]
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Keddy, P.A. 2007. Plants and Vegetation: Origins, Processes, Consequences.Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 666 p.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Blanchan, Neltje. 1917. Wild Flowers Worth Knowing Doubleday, New York.Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
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- ↑ Keddy, P.A. 2007. Plants and Vegetation: Origins, Processes, Consequences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 666 p.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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