Kalmia microphylla
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Kalmia microphylla 0601.JPG
|status = {{TNCStatus}}
|status_system = TNC
|genus = Kalmia
|species = microphylla
|authority = (Hook.) A.Heller
}}
Kalmia microphylla, known as alpine laurel, bog laurel, swamp-laurel, western bog-laurel{{cite book |title=Plants of British Columbia |author1=Hong, Qian |author2=Klinka, Karel |page=62 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cBciWJHM5GkC&q=kalmia+microphylla&pg=PA62 |access-date=2011-11-20|isbn=9780774806527 |year=1998 }} or western laurel, is a species of Kalmia of the family Ericaceae. It is native to North America and can be found throughout the western US and western and central Canada below the subarctic.{{cite web |url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=KAMI |title=PLANTS Profile for Kalmia microphylla (alpine laurel) |publisher= United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=2011-11-20}}
Etymology
Kalmia, the genus, is named after Swedish-Finn botanist Pehr Kalm, a student of Carl Linnaeus, while microphylla derives from Ancient Greek meaning "small leaves".{{cite book |title=Pacific Northwest Wildflowers |last=Fagan |first=Damian |page=172 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c3lXtV-NKg0C&q=kalmia+microphylla+%22small+leaves%22&pg=PA172 |access-date=2011-11-20|isbn=9780762735723 |year=2006 }}
Description
Kalmia microphylla are characterized as being short, shrubs that have a maximum height of 24 inches and their growth rarely surpasses 6 ft.{{cite web |url=http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Ericaceae/Kalmia_microphylla.html |last=Faucon |first=Phillipe |title=Alpine Laurel, Western Laurel |publisher=Desert Tropicals |access-date=2011-11-20 |archive-date=2012-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110235900/http://desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Ericaceae/Kalmia_microphylla.html |url-status=dead }} This plant is easily mistaken for the K. polifolia "bog-laurel" because of the similar characteristics of their flowers. K. microphylla can be distinguished by their clusters of pink or purple bell shaped flowers.{{cite web |url=http://montana.plant-life.org/species/kalmia_micro.htm |work=Montana plant life |title=Alpine Laurel |publisher=Montana.Plant-Life.org |access-date=2011-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828124000/http://montana.plant-life.org/species/kalmia_micro.htm |archive-date=2012-08-28 }} The flowers are held within five fused petals that open in the shape of a cup. The stamens held within the petals react to insects that land on them by covering them with pollen. The plant produces green fruits, which are small and hard in form. Fruits are five parted capsules.{{cite web |url=http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=682 |title=Kalmia microphylla fact sheet: alpine laurel |work=VTree ID |publisher=Virgnina Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation |access-date=2011-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624120415/http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=682 |archive-date=2013-06-24 }} The leaves of this plant are oppositely attached and are not deciduous. Leaves are distinctly lanceolate in shape with rolled leaf edges, a leathery texture, and dark green color. The plant's branches and twigs are fuzzy in early growth and then during maturity become smooth and reddish brown to grayish in color.
Distribution and habitat
This is a perennial species and has active growth during spring and summer. These plants can frequently be found in alpine meadows,{{cite web| url=http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/waflora/checklist.php?Family=Ericaceae&view=list |title=Checklist: Ericaceae (Heath Family) |work=Washington Flora Checklist |publisher=University of Washington Herbarium, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture |access-date=2011-11-20}} open wet areas and bogs.{{cite web |last1=Fertig |first1=Walter |title=Bog Laurel (Kalmia microphylla) |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/kalmia_microphylla.shtml |website=Plant of the Week |publisher=USDA, U.S. Forest Service |access-date=28 March 2024 |language=en}} The habitat in which it optimally grows in open heath or shrublands with moist soil. The soil must have very low levels of calcium carbonate because the plant is intolerant of alkaline conditions. Distribution of Kalmia microphylla ranges from Alaska to California and now has expanded through much of northern Canada.{{GRIN | accessdate=2011-11-20 }}
Uses
The kalmias are very poisonous plants, containing grayanotoxin.{{Cite book|last=Fagan|first=Damian|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1073035766|title=Wildflowers of Oregon: A Field Guide to Over 400 Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of the Coast, Cascades, and High Desert|publisher=FalconGuides|year=2019|isbn=1-4930-3633-5|location=Guilford, CT|pages=193|oclc=1073035766}} Kalmia microphylla has also been used for medicinal purposes in creating external washes for skin diseases.
Gallery
File:Kalmia microphylla.jpg|Kalmia microphylla
File:Kalmia microphylla 0605.JPG
File:Kalmia microphylla 0600.JPG
File:Kalmia microphylla 0602.JPG
File:Kalmia microphylla 0607.JPG
References
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q23933}}
Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States
Category:Flora of Northern Canada
Category:Flora of Western Canada
Category:Taxa named by Amos Arthur Heller