DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 267 



LOBELIA. 



[Name in honor of M. Label, physician and botanist to James I.] 



The genus is very large, containing more than eighty- 

 species. The predominant color in the species is blue, and 

 many are highly ornamental. 



Lobelia cardinalis.— Scarlet Cardinal Flower. — This 

 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 no- 

 tion that it will flourish only in wet ground. I have 

 taken it up, when growing in water, and planted it in a 

 soil that was far from being moist, Av^ith good success. 

 It was introduced into England in 1629, and, to this day, 

 is duly appreciated. Justice, who published a work on 

 gardening, in 1754, in describing it, says : — " It is a flower 

 of most handsome appearance, which should not be want- 

 ing 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. 



L. fulgens. — ^The Fulgent Lobelia. — Is a native of Mex- 

 ico, and was introduced into England in 1809. Leaves 

 narrow lanceolate, toothed, revolute at the edge ; stem 

 jmbescent, (downy,) three feet high; perennial; its 

 bright scarlet flowers in terminal racemes. 



L. splendens. — The Splendid Lobelia. — 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 ; perennial. 



L, syphilitica, — The Blue or Great Lobelia. — Is a com- 

 mon plant, and introduced into England in 1665. It has 

 its specific name from its supposed efticacy in the cure of 

 the syphilis, among the North American Indians. Sir 

 William Johnson purchased the secret from them, but 



