Kalmia angustifolia
| Sheep-laurel | |
|---|---|
| File:Kalmia angustifolia Rubra.jpg | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Kalmia |
| Species: | K. angustifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Kalmia angustifolia | |
Kalmia angustifolia is a flowering shrub in the family Ericaceae, commonly known by various names including sheep laurel, wicky, and dwarf laurel. It is distributed in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec south to Virginia,[1] while the southern subspecies K. angustifolia ssp. carolina grows as far south as Georgia.[2] It grows commonly in dry habitats in the boreal forest, and is also found in drier areas of peat bogs, or pocosins. It may become dominant over large areas after fire or logging.[3] Like many plant species of infertile habitats it has evergreen leaves and mycorrhizal associations with fungi.[4]
Description
[edit | edit source]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 bumblebees and solitary bees. Each mature capsule contains about 180 seeds.[5]
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.[5] The narrow evergreen leaves, pale on the underside, have a tendency to emerge from the stem in groups of three. The Latin specific epithet angustifolia means "narrow-leaved".[6] 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.[7]
Cultivation
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Kalmia angustifolia is cultivated as an ornamental garden shrub. It prefers a moist, acidic soil in partial shade. The species has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8] Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use, of which K. angustifolia f. rubra,[9] with rich red flowers, has also won the award.[10]
Toxicity
[edit | edit source]Kalmia contains a glycoside, known as andromedotoxin.[11] It is poisonous to mammals. Hence, it can be unwelcome in pastures.[12] Several of its folk-names testify to the plant's toxicity: 'lamb-kill', 'sheep kill', 'calf-kill', 'pig laurel', 'sheep-laurel' and 'sheep-poison'.[13] It is also known as narrow-leaved laurel and dwarf laurel.[13]
Southern sheepkill
[edit | edit source]
Carolina wicky, southern sheepkill, or Carolina bog myrtle is a shrub found from southeastern Virginia through Georgia. Originally classified as Kalmia carolina, authorities disagree on whether it should continue to be considered a separate species,[2] or whether it should be classified as a variety[14] or subspecies[15] of K. angustifolia. It is essentially allopatric with K. angustifolia ssp. angustifolia; their ranges only intersect in Southampton County, Virginia.[2] Aside from native range, the two types can be distinguished by the undersides of their leaves; southern sheepkill has a dense fuzz, absent from the smooth surface of sheep laurel.[16]
References
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- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Blanchan, Neltje. 1917. Wild Flowers Worth Knowing Doubleday, New York.Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
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