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.