Family Ericaceae
Found in the eastern USA, this is a broad-leaved (3-12 cm long, 1-4 cm wide) evergreen shrub, between 3-9 m tall. Its flowers are star-shaped, pink to white, occuring in clusters. Poisonous.
The plant is naturally found on rocky slopes and mountainous forest areas.
It is also known as Ivybush, Calico Bush, Spoonwood (because native Americans used to make their spoons out of it), Sheep Laurel, Lambkill and Clamoun.
Mountain laurel has been the state flower of Connecticut since April 17, 1907.
The plant was first recorded in America in 1624, but it was named after Peter Kalm, who sent samples to Linnaeus in the eighteenth century.
Varieties include:
var. Latifolia - Mountain Laurel; var. Rubra Sweet - Pink Mountain Laurel; var. Laevipes Vern. - Smooth Mountain Laurel; var. Fuscata Rehd. - Branded Mountain Laurel; var. Alba Bosse - White Mountain Laurel.
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