130 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



splendid native plant embellishes the borders of our brooks and 

 rivulets, in the months of July and August, with its unrivalled 

 scarlet blossoms. It is a mistaken notion that it will flour- 

 ish only in wet ground. I have taken it up, when grow- 

 ing in water, and planted it in a soil that was far from being 

 moist, with good success. It was introduced into England in 

 1629, and, to this day, is duly appreciated. Justice, who pub- 

 lished a work on gardening, in 1754, in describing it, says : 

 " It is a flower of most handsome appearance, which should not 

 be wanting in curious gardens, as it excels all other flowers 

 I ever knew in the richness of its color." It has an erect 

 stem, two to three feet high, with broad lanceolate, serrate 

 leaves; flowers in terminal spikes, pointing one way. The 

 roots of all the species are composed of many white fleshy 

 fibres. 



L. fulgens, the Fulgent Cardinal Flower, is a native of 

 Mexico, and was introduced into England in 1S09. Leaves 

 narrow lanceolate, toothed, revolute at the edge ; stem pubes- 

 cent, (downy,) three feet high; its bright scarlet flowers in 

 terminal racemes. 



L. splendens, the Splendid Cardinal Flower, is also a 

 native of Mexico, introduced into England in 1814. Leaves 

 narrow lanceolate ; stem quite smooth, three feet high ; flowers 

 brilliant scarlet, in terminal racemes. 



L. ijiflata, or Bladder-podded Lobelia, is probably familiar 

 with every one, at least its name. Its virtues are so highly 

 prized by some, that we are almost led to suppose that it is a 

 sovereign remedy for all diseases that flesh and blood are heir 

 to. The plant is an annual, of not much interest, with small 

 blue flowers, and inflated pods or seed-vessels, common in dry 

 pastures and road sides. The whole plant is a violent emetic. 

 It is not used often by regular practitioners. 



L. speciosa, the Showy Cardinal Flower, " is a new and 

 very late introduced variety. It was found growing among the 

 other varieties, in a flower border in Scotland, and is supposed 

 to be a hybrid between siphilitica, and either fulgens or cardi- 



