CHAP. I.] LOBELIACE^. 391 



ORDER CIX.— LOBELIACE^. 



The genus Lobelia is well known from the 

 pretty little blue-and-white flowering plants 

 that are so common in pots for windows and 

 balconies, and that continue flowering so freely 

 all the summer. There are two or three species 

 which are grown for this purpose, viz. Lobelia 

 Erinus^ L. hicolor^ and L. gracilis^ all annuals, 

 which require to be raised on a hotbed by sow- 

 ing in February, and which will then flower 

 all the summer, with no other care than regular 

 watering. All these flowers have the tube of 

 the calyx united to the ovary, with a five-parted 

 limb. The corolla is irregular and tubular, 

 with the tube cleft on the upper side, and 

 thickened at the base. The limb of the corolla 

 is divided into two parts ; one of which, called 

 the upper lip, is cut into two narrow sharp- 

 pointed segments, which stand erect; while the 

 lower lip, which is much the longer, and hangs 

 down, is cut into three rounded segments. 

 There are five stamens, the anthers of which 

 grow together, and at least two of them are 

 bearded. The capsule is oval, two-celled, two- 

 valved, and many-seeded, opening naturally at 

 the top when ripe. These general characters 

 will be found in all the numerous species of 

 Lobelia, as the genus at present stands, as they 



