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Home/Species/ Alpine Bog Laurel

Kalmia microphylla

(Hook.) Heller

Alpine Bog Laurel

G5Secure Found in 229 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.148824
Element CodePDERI0K050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEricales
FamilyEricaceae
GenusKalmia
Synonyms
Kalmia microphylla ssp. microphyllaKalmia polifolia ssp. microphylla(Hook.) Calder & Roy L. TaylorKalmia polifolia var. microphylla(Hook.) Rehder
Other Common Names
Alpine Laurel (EN) alpine laurel (EN) Kalmia à petites feuilles (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
Flora of North America (vol. 8, 2009) recognizes two varieties (var. microphylla and occidentalis).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2019-10-19
Change Date1993-06-25
Edition Date1993-06-25
Edition AuthorsStoner, N.
Rank Reasons
Widespread in western US and Canada.
Range Extent Comments
UT (Daggett, Duchesne, Summit, Uintah counties),AB, AK and YT, OR, WA, ID, MT, WY, CO, NV, CA.
Occurrences Comments
Common.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Pale Laurel is a low, evergreen shrub with branched, ascending to prostrate stems that are 2-5 dm long and which root at the nodes. The narrowly elliptic leaves are 2-4 cm long, are opposite, and have short petioles and entire, rolled-under margins. They are dark green and glabrous above but densely gray-hairy and glandular below. Several flowers are borne on stalks that are 2-4 cm long at the stem tips. The calyx has 5 deep lobes that are 2-3 mm long, and the deep pink, bowl-shaped, 5-lobed corolla is 12-18 mm broad. There are 10 stamens. The fruit is a nearly round capsule that is 2-3 mm high; it opens by 5 slits radiating from the center.

Diagnostic Characteristics

K. MICROPHYLLA is similar but is usually less than 10 cm tall with leaves 1-2 cm long and flowers less than 12 mm across.

Habitat

Spruce-fir and lodgepole pine communities, typically in meadows and along streams and lake margins at 2900-3750 m. Cold bogs.
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaS4Yes
Yukon TerritoryS4Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
OntarioS2Yes
SaskatchewanSNRYes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
ManitobaS1Yes
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
IdahoSNRYes
AlaskaSNRYes
MontanaS4Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
OregonSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
WyomingS4Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
UtahSNRYes
NevadaS2Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (229)
Alaska (55)
AreaForestAcres
Behm IslandsTongass National Forest4,777
Brabazon AdditionTongass National Forest498,819
Central WrangellTongass National Forest13,397
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
ClevelandTongass National Forest189,447
CrystalTongass National Forest18,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
East MitkofTongass National Forest8,795
El CapitanTongass National Forest26,693
EudoraTongass National Forest195,022
Five MileTongass National Forest19,459
Freshwater BayTongass National Forest44,933
Game CreekTongass National Forest54,469
GravinaTongass National Forest37,381
HardingTongass National Forest174,349
Hoonah SoundTongass National Forest79,764
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
KekuTongass National Forest10,869
KogishTongass National Forest65,216
KosciuskoTongass National Forest64,134
LindenbergTongass National Forest25,855
MadanTongass National Forest68,553
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
Middle KruzofTongass National Forest14,724
Neka BayTongass National Forest7,142
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North ClevelandTongass National Forest105,288
North KruzofTongass National Forest33,146
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
North WrangellTongass National Forest8,091
Pavlof-East PointTongass National Forest5,399
Port AlexanderTongass National Forest120,681
QuartzTongass National Forest143,003
RatzTongass National Forest5,325
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Salmon BayTongass National Forest22,793
SarkarTongass National Forest51,908
Sitka SoundTongass National Forest13,459
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
Soda BayTongass National Forest78,091
South EtolinTongass National Forest26,293
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
South RevillaTongass National Forest52,105
SpiresTongass National Forest533,746
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Tenakee RidgeTongass National Forest20,527
Thorne RiverTongass National Forest72,983
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
West WrangellTongass National Forest10,291
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
California (54)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Condrey Mtn.Klamath National Forest2,923
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Crane Mtn.Modoc National Forest1,269
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
EbbettsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest255
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Hoover - Green Ck NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7,155
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest624
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Mt. BidwellModoc National Forest11,687
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Mt. Shasta AShasta-Trinity National Forest676
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
Mt. VidaModoc National Forest7,771
NessieInyo National Forest830
NightStanislaus National Forest3,173
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PortugueseKlamath National Forest18,915
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
SherwinInyo National Forest3,140
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
TinemahaInyo National Forest27,060
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest829
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
West YubaTahoe National Forest16,059
West YubaPlumas National Forest6,071
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Wild Cattle MtnLassen National Forest4,965
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
Colorado (3)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Idaho (7)
AreaForestAcres
Bighorn - WeitasNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest254,845
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
SeceshPayette National Forest248,088
Montana (35)
AreaForestAcres
Barren Creek #183Kootenai National Forest14,534
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
BeartoothCuster National Forest1,142
BeartoothGallatin National Forest5,285
Buckhorn Ridge (MT)Kootenai National Forest34,716
Burnt MountainCuster National Forest10,698
Cabinet Face East #671Kootenai National Forest50,326
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
East PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest145,082
Fishtail SaddlebackCuster National Forest16,359
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Government Mountain #673Kootenai National Forest10,090
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Italian PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest90,401
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
LionheadGallatin National Forest33,549
Lolo CreekLolo National Forest14,335
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Marshall PeakLolo National Forest9,069
Mckay Creek #676Kootenai National Forest15,323
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
Mt. BaldyHelena National Forest16,362
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Northwest PeaksKootenai National Forest15,358
Proposed Line Creek PrnaCuster National Forest389
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Storm LakeBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest9,324
Ten Lakes #683Kootenai National Forest48,545
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
West PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest248,631
Willard Estelle #173Kootenai National Forest3,714
Nevada (4)
AreaForestAcres
Humboldt - Angel LkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,008
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
Oregon (24)
AreaForestAcres
BearwallowsDeschutes National Forest7,317
Bend WatershedDeschutes National Forest14,829
Boulder ParkWallowa-Whitman National Forest12,141
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Castle Rock AppendageUmpqua National Forest4,649
Crane MountainFremont National Forest23,096
French Pete (a)Willamette National Forest1,668
Gordon MeadowsWillamette National Forest9,463
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
Maiden PeakDeschutes National Forest26,432
Maiden PeakWillamette National Forest9,627
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
Mt. ThielsenWinema National Forest1,153
Roaring RiverMt. Hood National Forest27,316
Salmon - HuckleberryMt. Hood National Forest17,570
SherwoodUmpqua National Forest2,449
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
Upper Grande RondeWallowa-Whitman National Forest11,723
WaldoDeschutes National Forest4,973
Waldo - FujiWillamette National Forest15,273
Waldo - LakeWillamette National Forest2,993
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Utah (9)
AreaForestAcres
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418001Uinta National Forest5,697
418002Uinta National Forest19,152
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (19)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Grassy TopIdaho Panhandle National Forests13,485
Heather LakeWenatchee National Forest10,628
HorseshoeGifford Pinchot National Forest7,579
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
PressentinMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,545
Rugged RidgeOlympic National Forest4,358
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Wyoming (19)
AreaForestAcres
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Campbell LakeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest7,088
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Dunoir Special Management UnitShoshone National Forest29,719
French CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,928
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
North BoundaryShoshone National Forest182
Piney CreekBighorn National Forest22,240
Rock CreekBighorn National Forest48,657
Rock CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest18,874
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
Togwotee PassShoshone National Forest7,344
Walker PrairieBighorn National Forest62,434
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
References (4)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2009. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 8. Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 585 pp.
  2. Harrington, H.D. 1954. Manual of the plants of Colorado. Sage Press, Chicago. 666 pp.
  3. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  4. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, L.C. Higgins, and S. Goodrich, eds. 1987. A Utah Flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoir 9: 1- 894. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. 894 pp.