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| Photo
by Renee Brecht |
Britton and Brown. See
credits below. |
| Botanical name: |
Kalmia latifolia L.
|
| Common
name: |
Mountain
laurel
|
| Synonomy: |
Kalmia
latifolia L. var. laevipes
Fern.
|
| Group: |
Dicot
|
| Family: |
Ericaceae |
| Growth
Type: |
Tree/Shrub
|
| Duration: |
Perennial
|
| Plant
height: |
5'-15'
|
| Foliage: |
Irregular,
gnarled trunks. Leaves alternate, elliptical, 2"-5", thick, leathery,
smooth, shiny, dark green.
|
| Flower
color: |
white
to pink |
| Flower
size: |
3/4
to 1 inch across
|
| Flowering/fruiting time |
Flowers
late May to late June. Fruits late August through autumn.
|
| Habitat: |
Sandy
ground everywhere except in the Cape May peninsula. Stone says common
in both dry and moist situations; an abundant plant in the Pine Barrens.
"The Pines seem to be the chosen land of the Ericaceae, which abound
there both in species and individuals. As we visit them in early spring
in search of the finest Arbutus that
I know of, so by the end of June we may be sure of finding the greatest
display of Laurel that can be found anywhere in the Middle States even
on the mountains themselves, which are supposed to be its proper home.
It is snow white in shady spots and reaches a height of six to eight
feet, while in open ground, even out on the plains, it grows in low
rounded bushes with the flowers of the deepest pink. " (Stone 617)
|
| Range in
New Jersey: |
Middle
district and Pine Barrens
|
| Heritage ranking, if any |
n/a |
| Distribution |
|
| Misc.: |
USDA
lists as a facultative upland species; i.e., Usually occurs
in non-wetlands (estimated probability 67%-99%), but occasionally found
on wetlands (estimated probability 1%-33%).
Kalmia,
named
for Pehr Kalm, 18th century
Swedish naturalist traveling in Canada; latifolia = wide
leaves. |
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| Sources |
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