ON THE CULTURE OF THE GENUS LOBELIA. 225 



ARTICLE Y.—0)i the Culture of the Genus Lobelia. 

 By Ax Ardent Amateur. 



The genus Lobelia comprises plants of much interest to nn 

 admirer of flowers : some of them exhibiting blossoms strikingly 

 elegant, brilliant, and beautiful, and of a commanding figure in 

 stature ; whilst others, more humble in growth, are equally pretty 

 and jdeasing. In the former class, the plant rears up its s])lendid 

 spike of the richest possible hue ; the other, in prostrate beauty, 

 displays a carpet of simple, yet engaging elegance. 



Thinking a few liints on the culture of a nmnbcr of the Lobe- 

 lii\s would be acceptable to the readers of the Cabinet, induced 

 me to draw up the remarks here transmitted for insertion thc;-e)n. 

 The Lobelia was so named by that eminent French botanist, 

 Father Plumier, (who discovered the first species of it, in Ame- 

 rica,) in honour of Dr. Loeel, a learned botanist, who published 

 the figiu-es of a great number of plants at Antwerp in 1581, and 

 two or three other gardening books before that time. The genus 

 is now ranked in the class Pentandria, and order Monogynia, 

 although formerly classed in Syngenesia. The natural order is 

 Lobeliacea;, very closely allied to Campanulaceee, from which their 

 colour alone distinguishes them. 



Lobelia cardinalis and siphilitica are natives of Virginica; 

 fulgcns and splendens, natives of Mexico, are the principal half- 

 hardy species (for none of them arc entirely so, excejjt urens and 

 Dortmanina, or Water Gladiole, natives of tliis countiy) ; these 

 are the most frequently cultivated. Lobelia salicifolia, speciosa, 

 and Tupa, are handsome, but require the protection of a green- 

 house. All tlie princijiid varieties can be obtained at Miller's 

 garden, near Bristol, where they flower well ; the average cost is 

 about 2s. Gd. to 3s. Cd. each. Having seen many gardens and 

 nurseries, I cannot forbear naming that JNIiller's is the neatest 

 and best arranged that has ever come under my notice. 



All Lobelias arc poisonous, though some have been used medi- 

 cinally, a.s Lobelia siphilitica; hence its name. L. cardinalis is 

 used as an Anthelmintic, or destroyer of worms. L. inflatus, a 

 very active emetic — I believe the most active known. L. Tu])a 

 yields a dangerous poison ; the smell frefnu'ully causes head-aches, 

 L. longiflora is a most venomous pluui; when Uiken inwardly 



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