sheep laurel

sheep laurel
a low North American shrub, Kalmia angustifolia, of the heath family, having oblong leaves poisonous to grazing animals. Also called dwarf laurel, lambkill.
[1800-10, Amer.]

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Open upright woody shrub (Kalmia angustifolia) of the heath family.

Growing 1–4 ft (0.3–1.2 m) high, it has glossy, leathery, evergreen leaves and showy pink to rose flowers. Like other Kalmia species (including mountain laurel) and other members of the heath family, it contains a poison (andromedotoxin). In northwestern North America, where these plants occur, livestock (especially sheep) that graze on nonfertile soils of abandoned pastures and meadows may ingest enough of the plant to become poisoned, potentially fatally.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Sheep laurel — Laurel Lau rel, n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus {Laurus} ({Laurus nobilis}), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sheep laurel — Sheep Sheep, n. sing. & pl. [OE. shep, scheep, AS. sc?p, sce[ a]p; akin to OFries. sk?p, LG. & D. schaap, G. schaf, OHG. sc[=a]f, Skr. ch[=a]ga. [root]295. Cf. {Sheepherd}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of ruminants of the genus… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sheep laurel — ☆ sheep laurel n. a small E North American plant (Kalmia angustifolia) of the heath family, with pinkish flowers and evergreen leaves poisonous to sheep and other animals …   English World dictionary

  • sheep laurel — Lambkill Lamb kill , n. (Bot.) A small American ericaceous shrub ({Kalmia angustifolia}), resembling mountain laurel but having narrower leaves and small red flowers; called also {calfkill}, {sheepkill}, {sheep laurel}, etc. It is supposed to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sheep-laurel — siauralapis grėsvis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Erikinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Kalmia angustifolia), paplitęs Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Kalmia angustifolia angl. dwarf laurel; lambkill; pig… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • sheep laurel — sheep′ lau rel n. pln a North American low shrub, Kalmia angustifolia, that is poisonous to grazing animals • Etymology: 1800–10, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • sheep laurel — noun North American dwarf shrub resembling mountain laurel but having narrower leaves and small red flowers; poisonous to young stock • Syn: ↑pig laurel, ↑lambkill, ↑Kalmia angustifolia • Hypernyms: ↑kalmia …   Useful english dictionary

  • sheep laurel — noun Date: 1810 a dwarf shrub (Kalmia angustifolia) of the heath family that is native to northeastern North America and is poisonous to livestock and that resembles mountain laurel but has narrower leaves and smaller bright red flowers called… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Laurel — Lau rel, n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus {Laurus} ({Laurus nobilis}), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • laurel — Lau rel, n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus {Laurus} ({Laurus nobilis}), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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