Wednesday, 25 April 2012

MASSACHUSETTS STATE FLOWER

Trailing-Arbutus 
Epigaea repens 

Other common names.—Gravel plant, Mayflower, shadflower, ground laurel, mountain pink, winter pink. Habitat and range.—Trailing- arbutus spread out on the ground in sandy soil, being found from Newfoundland to Michigan and Saskatchewan and south to Kentucky and Florida. Description.—This plant, generally referred to in the drug trade as gravel plant but more popularly known as ''trailing-arbutus" spreads on the ground with stem 6 or more in length. It has rust-colored, hairy twigs bearing leathery, evergreen leaves from 1 to 3 inches long and about half as wide. The flower clusters, which appear from March to May, consist of fragrant, delicate, shell pink, waxy blossoms. Part used.—The leaves, gathered at flowering time. 

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