Whitewicky (Kalmia cuneata)
Description
Kalmia cuneata is a species of flowering plant in the heath family known by the common name whitewicky, sometimes spelled white-wicky or white wicky. It is native to the eastern United States, where it occurs only in North Carolina and South Carolina.Kalmia cuneata is a shrub growing up to 1.5 to 2 meters (5-6.7 feet) tall. It is deciduous, a key identifying characteristic.The leaves are widely lance-shaped, measuring up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long by 3 cm (1.2 inches) wide, and light green, turning red in the fall. They are alternately arranged. The lateral inflorescence is a raceme or fascicle of up to 10 flowers. The five petals are joined into a lobed, open corolla which is white with a red ring near the center. In the center are ten stamens. The fruit is a small capsule. This species is easily told from Kalmia carolina, which is evergreen and has pink flowers and oppositely arranged leaves. It also occurs in the same region as Kalmia latifolia, which is evergreen and has terminal inflorescences.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Ericales
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Family: Ericaceae
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Genus: Kalmia
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