Maryland Heaths ( Family Ericaceae )

In the words of Carole Bergmann, MNPS board member and forest ecologist for Montgomery County Parks: “Kalmia latifolia is a lovely plant all the way around. Beautiful owers, and evergreen foliage that shines in the winter sun. It often forms huge thickets, and when it gets old, it has an open sprawling habit with a peeling strip cinnamon colored bark. It lives in acidic soil. It will tolerate very dry conditions. Down in the North Carolina Smokies, it will get as big as a small tree.” Carole adds: “Even though the Kalmia trunk may look not that large/impressive/important to the average person, the plant itself may be relatively old (50+years).” She says: “In my job as Forest Ecologist for Montgomery County Parks, I always take a minute to tell trail sta /volunteers/contract crews that the Kalmia (continued page 4)