Kalmia microphylla, known as alpine laurel, bog laurel, swamp-laurel, western bog-laurel or western laurel, is a species of Kalmia

Kalmia

Kalmia is a genus of about 8 species of evergreen shrubs from 0.2–5 m tall, in the family Ericaceae. They are native to North America and Cuba. They grow in acidic soils, with different species in wet acid bog habitats and dry, sandy soils Kalmia is a genus of about 8 species of evergreen shrubs...

 belonging to the Ericaceae family. It is native to North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 and can be found throughout the western US and western and central Canada below the subarctic.

Description

Kalmia microphylla are characterized as being short, shrubs that have a maximum height of 24 inches and their growth rarely surpasses 6 ft. 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. 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. 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.

Ecology

This is a perennial species and has active growth during spring and summer. These plants can frequently be found in alpine meadows, open wet areas and bogs. The habitat in which it optimally grows in in open heath or shrublands with moist soil. The soil must have very low levels of calcium carbonate because its presence the plant is intolerant of increasing acidity of the soil. Distribution of microphylla ranges from Alaska to California and now has expanded through much of northern Canada.

Uses

The kalmias are very poisonous plants. This is a stock-poisoning plant and can eliminate mass amounts of mammals. Kalmia microphylla has also been used for medicinal purposes in creating external washes for skin diseases. Some people boil the leaves and use it to help open sores. Although there are some positive aspects of this plant such as for medicinal purposes they should still be used with care because of its poisonous nature.

History

The species was named after Swedish botanist Peter Kalm, a student of Carl Linnaeus; "microphylla" is Latin for "small leaves".