''Kalmia procumbens'', commonly known as alpine azalea or trailing azalea, is a dwarf shrub of high mountain regions of the Northern Hemisphere that usually grows no more than tall. Originally named by Linnaeus as ''Azalea procumbens'', it is also named after French botanist L.L.A. Loiseleur-Deslongchamps - ''Loiseleuria procumbens''.

Distribution

''Kalmia procumbens'' is not well known though it is widely distributed. These plants are common in the subarctic regions and high mountains of the northern hemisphere. In North America it reaches the southern limit of its range in the mountains of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington. It is easy to propagate.

Habitat and ecology

''Kalmia procumbens'' prefers alpine or subalpine, rocky exposed habitat. It grows above treeline with mountain heathers and at lower elevations in bogs. It is a known host to the

microfungus Microfungi or micromycetes are fungi—eukaryotic organisms such as molds, mildews and rusts—which have microscopic spore-producing structures. They exhibit tube tip-growth and have cell walls composed of chitin, a polymer of ''N''-acetylglucosa ...

'' Delphinella polyspora'', which grows on its

pedicels In botany, a pedicel is a stem that attaches a single flower to the inflorescence. Such inflorescences are described as ''pedicellate''. Description Pedicel refers to a structure connecting a single flower to its inflorescence. In the absenc ...

and

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...

Morphology

Individuals of this species are shrubs grown for two to five rose-pink flowers. Its leaves are opposite and its evergreen leaves are leathery blades to 8mm long and have incised margin. Edges are rolled under green on the top and white with dense short hairs underneath.

Flowers and fruit

Flowers of ''Kalmia procumbens'' are bell shaped and five lobed, and have five stamens. The flowering time is late spring and summer.

References

Notes

Maine Department of Conservation Natural Areas Program: ''Loiseleuria procumbens'' (Alpine Azalea)
(2004) # Wiley, L. 1969. ''Rare wild flowers of North America''. pp 308–313. {{Taxonbar, from=Q1193268 procumbens Flora of Canada Flora of Northern Europe Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the Northwestern United States Flora of Alaska Flora of Maine Flora of Russia Flora of Saint Pierre and Miquelon Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Flora without expected TNC conservation status