Connecticut State Flower

connecticut-state-flower2 Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is the official Connecticut State Flower. The Mountain Laurel is perhaps the most beautiful of native American shrubs. Mountain Laurel, a Wildflower, is also the state flower of Pennsylvania. The Mountain Laurel plant was originally brought to Europe as an ornamental plant during the 18th century. Mountain Laurel is widely grown for its attractive flowers.

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Kalmia

Mountain Laurel flowers are star-shaped, ranging in color from red to pink to white, and occurring in clusters. Mountain Laurel bloom between May and June.The Mountain Laurel flower stamens have a mechanism to eject pollen when tripped by a bee.The Mountain Laurel flowers have 5 Regular Parts and are up to 2.5cm wide. Mountain Laurel flowers are pink, sometimes white. Blooms first appear in late spring and continue into early summer. The Mountain Laurel flowers bloom in showy clusters.

Mountain Laurel are also called Ivybush, Calico Bush, Spoonwood, Sheep Laurel, Lambkill and Clamoun.The Mountain Laurel flower was designated as the State Flower of Connecticut by the General Assembly in 1907. The Mountain Laurel plant is naturally found on rocky slopes and in mountainous forest areas.

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Mountain Laurel and other Laurels have poisonous leaves which may be browsed by extremely hungry livestock. Milk produced by cows that eat the leaves may be poison as may honey produced by bees that visit the flowers.

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Facts About Mountain Laurel

Mountain Laurel is a flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to the eastern USA, from southern Maine to northern Florida, and west to Indiana and Louisiana.
The Mountain Laurel can reach a height of 6.1 Meters (20 feet ).
The Mountain laurel plant leaves are alternate, with each leaf shiny and entire. The leaves are 3-12 cm long and 1-4 cm wide.
All parts of the plant are poisonous.
The Mountain laurel plant was first recorded in America in 1624, but it was named after Pehr Kalm, who sent samples in the 18th century.
The Mountain Laurel plant can grow to 30-feet in width and 10-feet in height.
Mountain Laurel has a thin, long, dark-reddish brown bark that have narrow ridges and scales.
The leaves are yellow-green and shiny on top. The leaves can grow in pairs or in threes, alternate or opposite, 3-4 inches long.
The plant often grows in large thickets, covering large areas of forest floor.
Spectacular floral displays are the hallmark of this shrub.
Mountain laurel wood is relatively strong and has been used by artisans to make tobacco pipes and furniture, such as end tables and small chairs.
The plant is also long-lived and can be active for up to 100 years. The Mountain Laurel Fruit is a brown, five celled capsule about 6mm (.25") wide, which is seen in Rocky woods.

Varieties of Mountain Laurel

There are 5 important varieties of Mountain Laurel viz.,

var. alba Bosse - White Mountain-laurel.
var. fuscata Rehd. - Branded Mountain-laurel;
var. laevipes Vern. - Smooth Mountain-laurel;
var. latifolia - Mountain-laurel;
var. rubra Sweet - Pink Mountain-laurel;

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Facts About Connecticut

Connecticut was the 5th state in union; and atttained its statehood on January 9,1788.
Hartford is the capital of Connecticut.
The largest city in Connecticut is Bridgeport.
The total land area of Connecticut state is 5,544 square miles.
Connecticut is the 48th biggest state in the USA.
Connecticut is also called Constitution State.
Connecticut State Motto is Qui transtulit sustinet meaning He who transplanted still sustains.
Bordering states of Connecticut are Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island.
Bordering bodies of water of Connecticut state are Long Island Sound, Atlantic Ocean.
The population of Connecticut is 3,510,000 as of 2005 - Connecticut is the 29th most populous state in the USA.
Major industries in Connecticut are agriculture, , tourism, industry - especially insurance(the Hartford metropolitan area is one of the industry's world centers, with the home offices of many insurance companies).
Important rivers of Connecticut state are Connecticut River, Housatonic River and Thames River.
Highest Point in Connecticut is Mt. Frissell - 2380 feet, (725 m) above sea level.
The name Connecticut is derived from a Mohican/Algonquin Indian word quonehtacut, which means long tidal river.
Dinosaur Fossils were found in Connecticut.
Important Cities of Connecticut are Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, Stamford, Waterbury.
Universities in Connecticut include Yale Univ., at New Haven; Trinity College, at Hartford; Wesleyan Univ., at Middletown; the Univ. of Connecticut, at Storrs; and the United States Coast Guard Academy and Connecticut College, at New London.
In 1614 the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block sailed through Long Island Sound and explored the Connecticut River. The Dutch built a small fort in 1633 on the site of present-day Hartford.
Connecticut derives most of its wealth from industry. Textiles, silverware, sewing machines, and clocks and watches are among Connecticut's historic manufactures.