LOBELIA fulgens. 

 Refulgent Lobelia. 



Class and Order. — Pentandria Monogynia. 

 Syn. Lobelia fulgens. Bot. Rep. pi. 659. 



Root fibrous — stem erect, leafy, occasionally drooping at the summit, downy. 

 Leaves alternate sessile, broad lanceolate, undulate, denticulate near 

 the point, veined, becoming smaller towards the top of the stem — pe- 

 duncles very short — calyx five segments, acute, downy — corolla mono- 

 petalous, very brilliant scarlet — tube oblong, inflated at the base, seg- 

 ments five, three lower ones, oblong, lanceolate, acute; two upper, 

 small, linear, acute, recurved — stamens five— anthers oblong, style 

 filiform — stigma compressed. 



This brilliant ornament to the flower garden is a native of Mexico, 

 and was raised from seeds sent by Humboldt and Bonplaud, to this 

 country, about the year 1809 — it is a plant of easy cultivation, and is 

 readily increased by parting the roots in Spring — it is hard}, but in 

 the winter requires to be kept dry, as it is liable to decay from too 

 much moisture, it is therefore the safest plan to put a few plants in a 

 frame, divide them, and plant them about April, in a stiff soil, and moist 

 situation, where they will flourish exceedingly, and make a splendid 

 appearance until destroyed by frost — This species dift'ers little from 

 L. Splendens, which has its foliage more tinged with red and is de- 

 void of that pubescence which distinguishes L. fulgens. 



There are several beautiful species of this genus, but few are 

 hardy, those most desii'able for a flower garden are 



L. splendens. 



— cardinalis. 



— amsena. 



— tupa. 

 PI. 39. 



