Mountain Laurel

Mountain Laurel. Kalmia latifolia.

Mountain Laurel
Scientific name: Kalmia latifolia
Family: Ericaceae

Mountain Laurel has thick, shiny evergreen leaves. White and pale pink flowers blossom in the spring, with tiny red anthers that spring up when pollinators land on them. 

Two other closely related species of Kalmia in the pine barrens are Kalmia angustifolia and Kalmia buxifolia. K. angustifolia has smaller blue-green leaves and small pink flowers. K. buxifolia leaves are 1/2" long and the flowers are very tiny.

iNaturalist observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111856597
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Lat: 39.484624
Lon: -74.523481
Accuracy: 7m
Geoprivacy: Open