kalmia

American  

[kal-mee-uh] / ˈkæl mi ə /

noun

1. any North American evergreen shrub belonging to the genus Kalmia, of the heath family, having showy flowers, as the mountain laurel.

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kalmia British  

/ ˈkælmɪə /

noun

1. any evergreen ericaceous shrub of the North American genus Kalmia, having showy clusters of white or pink flowers See also mountain laurel

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Etymology

Origin of kalmia

< New Latin (Linnaeus), after Peter Kalm (1715–79), Swedish botanist; see -ia

Example Sentences

Dr. Darwin was conversing with a brother botanist concerning the plant kalmia, then a just imported stranger in our greenhouses and gardens.

From Evolution, Old & New Or, the Theories of Buffon, Dr. Erasmus Darwin and Lamarck, as compared with that of Charles Darwin by Butler, Samuel

The kalmia and the alder gave undergrowth and brilliancy to the foliage.

From The Entailed Hat Or, Patty Cannon's Times by Townsend, George Alfred

To-morrow came; but, as the leaves of the kalmia latifolia were out of my sight, they went out of my mind.

From Tales and Novels — Volume 02 by Edgeworth, Maria

The azalia, the shumac, and every variety of that beautiful mischief, the kalmia, are in equal profusion.

From Domestic Manners of the Americans by Trollope, Fanny

In June and July the polished evergreen foliage of the kalmia bushes is almost overwhelmed by the masses of its exquisite pink blossoms, beside which the bloom of rhododendrons looks coarse and crude in coloring.

From Trees Worth Knowing by Rogers, Julia Ellen