Kalmia polifolia

Wangenheim

Schriften Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 8(3): 130, plate 5. 1788 ,.

Common names: Bog swamp or pale laurel
Endemic
Synonyms: Kalmia glauca Aiton
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 485. Mentioned on page 481, 484.

Shrubs erect, to 1 m. Twigs slightly flattened, 2-angled, viscid, glabrous or puberulent in decurrent, ciliolate lines from petiole base. Leaves opposite; petiole 0.1–3 mm, glabrous or puberulent (base ciliate); blade usually oblong to linear, sometimes oval, 1.5–4.5 × 0.3–1.5 cm, margins usually revolute, apex obtuse to acute, abaxial surface puberulent, adaxial glabrate with puberulent bands on either side of midrib, midribs on both surfaces covered with purple, clavate trichomes. Inflorescences solitary flowers or terminal, corymbiform racemes, 3–8(–17)-flowered. Pedicels 15–30 mm. Flowers: sepals pale, translucent, white to light pink, ovate, 2.9–4 mm, apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous, margins ciliate; petals connate their entire lengths, usually rose-purple or pink, rarely white, 9–11 × 12–18 mm, glabrous except puberulent near base abaxially; filaments 4–5 mm; style 4.5–7 mm. Capsules 5-locular, 4–6 × 4–7 mm, glabrous. Seeds winged, oblong, 1.5–2.2 mm. 2n = 48.


Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Open bogs, swamps, wet alpine slopes
Elevation: 0-800 m

Distribution

V8 948-distribution-map.gif

Alta., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Conn., Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Pa., R.I., Vt., Wis., introduced in Europe (England).

Discussion

Kalmia polifolia is very closely related to K. microphylla and there is no general agreement on their taxonomic treatment. The two taxa have different flavonoid profiles and are distinctly separated (S. Liu 1993). The controversial Pacific lowland (Washington to Alaska) entity occidentalis resembles K. polifolia in structure; it is closely related to typical microphylla chemically and is separable from K. polifolia by key characters.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Kalmia polifolia"
Shunguo Liu +, Keith E. Denford +, John E. Ebinger +, John G. Packer +  and Gordon C. Tucker +
Wangenheim +
Bog +, swamp +  and or pale laurel +
Alta. +, Man. +, N.B. +, Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.) +, N.W.T. +, N.S. +, Ont. +, P.E.I. +, Que. +, Sask. +, Conn. +, Maine +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, Pa. +, R.I. +, Vt. +, Wis. +  and introduced in Europe (England). +
0-800 m +
Open bogs, swamps, wet alpine slopes +
Flowering May–Jul. +
Schriften Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin +
Kalmia glauca +
Kalmia polifolia +
species +