| Mountain Laurel Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Mountain Laurel |
| Scientific Name: | Kalmia latifolia |
| Origin | Eastern United States |
| Name | Mountain Laurel |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Kalmia latifolia |
| Native | Eastern United States |
| Common/English Name | Sheep Laurel, Lambkili, Spoonwood, Mountain Laurel, Calico-bush, spoonwood |
| Name in Other Languages | English: Mountain-laurel, Calico-bush, Mountain laurel, Spoonwood Swedish: Bredbladig kalmia; French: Kalmia à feuilles larges |
| Medicinal Part | The leaves |
| Plant Growth Habit | Broadleaved evergreen shrub |
| Soil | Cool, moist, rich, acidic, humusy, well-drained |
| Leaves | Lance-shaped, glossy, 3–12 cm long and 1–4 cm wide |
| Flowering Season | May and June |
| Flower | Light pink to white |
Leaves
Leaves are alternate, simple, elliptical and 2 to 5 inches long with entire margin, pointed tip and mid-vein raised on upper surfaces, shiny/waxy green above, yellow green below.
Flower
Flower is monoecious, 3 to 6 inches across and white to rose colored with purple markings. Each flower 1 inch across and have petals forming a distinct firm bowl around the pistil and stamens. It appears in late spring and early summer.
Fruit
Fruit is a round and brown dehiscent capsule, about ¼ inch long which split into five valves when dried and occurs in clusters. It has small seeds when matured in fall.
Twig
Twigs are forked and twisted, green or r ed when young and become brownish red later.
Bark
Bark is thin and dark brown, shredding and splitting on old stems.
Medicinal uses
- Leaves infusion are used as disinfectant wash and liniment for treating pain, rheumatism, scratches, inflammation and eliminate body parasites.
- Use the leaves internally for treating hemorrhages, flux and diarrhea.
- It could be used for treating inflammatory fevers, syphilis, paralytic conditions, neuralgia, angina and tinnitus.
- Cherokee use the leaves infusion on pain.
- Use the leaves decoction for diarrhea.
- Make ointment for skin diseases by stewing leaves in pure lard in an earthenware vessel in hot oven.
- Use the leaves infusion externally for skin problems and inflammatory problems.
- Apply the expressed juice of plant sap topically to rheumatic pains.
Precautions
- When used in excess cause headache, vertigo, salivation, loss of sight, nausea, thirst, slow pulse, palpitations and difficulty in breathing.
- Indians use the expressed leaves juice or strong decoction to commit suicide.
Externally
Stew with lard as an ointment for various skin irritations.
References:
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=23677#null
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalmia_latifolia
https://practicalplants.org/wiki/Kalmia_latifolia
https://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/l/laumou12.html
http://herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.com/2012/07/mountain-laurel-native-to-usahealth.html