[ W5 J 



LOBELIA HYBRIDA. 



Hybrid Lobelia. 



Variety. La Belle Pyramide. 



linnean Class — Pentandria. Order — Monogynia. Natural Order— Lobeliace^e. 



Ouit gardens can boast of few more splendid autumnal ornaments than the tall- 

 growing herbaceous varieties of the Lobelia. With us they are especial favorites ; 

 and we think that all who should see a bed, or even a smaller group, of some of 

 the new varieties, would not easily forget the effect of their dazzlingly brilliant 

 flowers. 



The more common occurrence of the Lobelia cardinalis and L. fulgens, both with 

 scarlet flowers, may have induced the belief that other hues are deficient in the 

 genus ; but, on the contrary, it would be difficult to name a primary tint which is 

 unrepresented in this showy tribe ; and as many of them have become intermingled 

 by cross breeding, the shades of colour in the Lobelias are now very numerous, and 

 every season will, doubtless, add to their number. 



The variety of habit among the plants included in the genus Lobelia, is as 

 remarkable as the great diversity of colour : few genera, indeed, contain plants 

 presenting so striking a contrast in this respect. 



Some of the species are well known trailers of the most delicate and diminutive 

 character, such are the L. gracilis and L. erinus ; whilst others attain the height of 

 twelve or fourteen feet, and possess quite a shrubby habit. It is, we hope, within 

 the range of probabilities, that hybrids between the shrubby and herbaceous species 

 may be eventually obtained ; and in this case, we might anticipate a race of Lobelias, 

 compared with which the present herbaceous varieties would be mere pigmies. 

 Meanwhile, we shall be glad to aid in bringing into more extensive cultivation, the 

 section of which cardinalis, fulgens, and splendens are the type ; for, assuredly, the 

 garden in which these species, or their hybrids, are not to be found, lacks a most 

 essential feature. 



La Belle Pyramide is one of the numerous beautiful hybrids of this genus 

 recently introduced from the Continent, and is remarkable for the richness of the 

 colour of its flowers. Its culture, and indeed that of all the Lobelias, is of a very 

 simple and easy character; and they are equally well adapted for the open air, of 

 the greenhouse, or window. 



Although in some favourable localities they are sufficiently hardy to bear entire 



