Catesby, Mark. Vol.II, Tab. 98, Chamaedaphne foliis Tini

Mark Catesby (1638 - 1749)Etching with hand color, paper dimensions: approximately 14 x 19 inchesFrom Volume II, Part 10 of Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida & the Bahama IslandsLondon: 1743 - 1771 Currently known as the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia*, Catesby described this subject as follows: CHAMAEDAPHNE foliis Tini, floribus bullatis umbellatis. This ever green Shrub rises usually to the Height of five or six Feet, and sometimes twice that Height: The Stems of some are as big as the small of a Man's Leg, though generally they are smaller, and covered with a rough brown Bark: The Wood is very close grained, heavy and hard, like Box: The Limbs in general are crooked and grow irregular, but are thick cloathed with stiff smooth Leaves, of a shining bright green, most of which are contracted, as in the Figure: The Flowers grow in Bunches on the Tops of the Branches, to Footstalks of three Inches long; they are white, stain'd with purplish red; consisting of one Leaf