Habitat.—Rich soil of stream banks, rocky mountainsides and flats.
Notes.—The wood of Rhododendron is only occasionally used for tool handles, engraving blocks, and other small articles, and is excellent for fuel. On account of its small size the tree is not commercially important. It is one of the most beautiful of our native species and has been appropriately selected as the State flower.
MOUNTAIN LAUREL
Kalmia latifolia, L.
Form.—A shrub or small tree occasionally attaining a height of 15-25 feet; trunk stout, usually forked and bearing stiff, divergent branches which form an irregular, compact, rounded head.
Leaves.—Alternate, simple, evergreen, oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 inches long, acute at both ends, entire, green above and below, persistent for two seasons.
Flowers.—May-June; perfect, pink or white, in many-flowered terminal corymbs.
Fruit.—Matures in early autumn; a globose, 5-valved, many-seeded capsule, covered with viscid hairs and with persistent style and calyx.