Mountain laurel,
Kalmia latifolia, is one of the most
beautiful flowering evergreen shrubs; unfortunately it is also one of the most
poisonous if ingested. Even the honey
made from the flowers is reported to be toxic.
If toxicity is the only reason not to plant anything there would be
very little to choose from when designing a landscape especially if desiring
that everything to be evergreen. Even
those plants that are not considered toxic have a dose that would have negative
effects. The flowers of mountain laurel
as well as a half dozen smaller and more obscure species in the same genus, including one that was first collected by William Bartram, have a unique form
where the anthers are inserted into pockets on the petals which form a goblet
like corolla. When an insect landing on the
flower touch the filaments, which are already flexed like a bow,
this is enough extra force to cause the anther to be released from the pocket
causing it to strike the insect and/or stigma thus pollination occurs. Mountain laurel is not restricted to the
mountains and can be found virtually throughout