Species of flowering plant
Kalmia buxifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae known by the common name sandmyrtle, or sand-myrtle. It is native to the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States, where it has a disjunct distribution, occurring in three separate areas. It is known from the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, the Coastal Plain of the Carolinas, and the southeastern Blue Ridge Mountains.[1]
This species is sometimes called Leiophyllum buxifolium, the only member of the monotypic genus Leiophyllum.[2] Genetic analysis supports its inclusion in genus Kalmia.[3]
This species is quite variable in appearance.[2] It is a shrub growing 10 centimeters to one meter in height. The leaves may be alternately or oppositely arranged on the stems. They are oval to lance-shaped and up to 1.4 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a raceme or umbel of up to 18 flowers with white or light pink petals. The fruit is a capsule a few millimeters long.[4]
This species grows in a variety of habitat types in its fragmented range, including sandy plains in the Carolinas and rocky mountain woods.[1]
The Latin specific epithet buxifolia means "box-leaved", referring to species in the genus Buxus.[5]
The species [6] and the cultivar 'Maryfield' have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [7]
References
External links
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| Kalmia buxifolia | |
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| Ledum buxifolium | |
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