The man who standardized the naming system for plants, Carl Linnaeus, named Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) after a student of his, Peter Kalm. Peter Kalm came to our country in 1753 looking for plants to take back to Europe. In mountainous/hilly north Alabama, it can grow into a beautiful large shrub that is tolerant of many conditions. The intricate flowers of mountain laurel have a specialized stamen that ejects pollen when "tripped" by a bee.

Lily-leafed Twayblade (Liparis lilifolia) is a rare orchid to find in Alabama. In fact, it is only known from a handful of sites in the northern part of the state. The botanical name is from a Greek word meaning "fat," from the succulence of the leaves. "Liparis," from Greek "liparos," fat or shining, from the smooth and lustrous leaves and succulence. "lilifolia," lily-leaved. Note the broad paired basal leaves and the dull mauve flowers with their broad lip, threadlike side petals and narrow greenish sepals. 4-10 in. Truly a beauty that is easily overlooked.

Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is native to Asia, and began its journey west by being introduced to Europe in 1751 by a French Jesuit preist who brought it from Nanking, China to England. The first known specimen was brought into the United States a few decades later by William Hamilton, who planted this species in Philadelphia. People admired the beautiful foliage of these fast-growing trees, and for over a century have been planting it as an ornamental, although the leaves emit a foul-smelling odor.