LOBELIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



LOBELIA. 



647 



collections in the park of Tete d'Or, under 

 whose supervision the experiments and 

 culture were carried on. 



Lobelia Gerardi is a vigorous growing 

 and very continuous flowering plant. Be- 

 fore the flowering stems make their ap- 

 pearance it forms a rosette of leaves of a 

 very pure green colour, and resembling 

 the rosette of the wild Chicory. The 

 running roots are abundantly furnished 

 with fibres. When fully grown the plant 

 attains a height of 4 to 5 feet ; the strong- 

 est flowering stems are as thick as one's 

 thumb at the base, and branch with from 

 twelve to fifteen clusters of fine broad 

 flowers, which all bloom together, the 

 whole forming a compact, rigid pyramid 

 needing no stake or prop to support it. 

 All parts of the stems and leaves have lost 

 the reddish tint of the Queen Victoria and 

 also the somewhat glaucous hue of L. 

 syphilitica, and are of a fine green colour ; 

 the calyx, however, is slightly reddish and 

 ciliated on the margin of the sepals. 



L. splendens. This species is also 

 called L. fulgens, and is a brilliant and 

 precious plant for the flower garden. Its 

 leaves are long and narrow, and the 

 flower-stalks taller and thicker than those 

 of L. cardinalis, the flowers larger with 

 broad over-lapping petals. The best 

 known, and a handsome form of this, 

 bears the name Queen Victoria. Its 

 leaves are a deep purple colour, and the 

 flowers a brilliant crimson-red. Firefly 

 is the handsomest variety in this section, 

 and was raised in Ireland. In good rich 

 soil it attains to a height of 5 ft., whilst in 

 colour the flowers are intensely vivid and 

 rich. A merit of this kind is that it bears 

 lateral flower-spikes around the central 

 one much more freely than Queen Victoria, 

 and these keep up a succession of bloom 

 after the leading spike is past its best. 

 Huntsman is another variety, brighter in 

 colour than Firefly. Sir R. Napier, Rob j 

 Roy, and other varieties have been 

 obtained from it. These vary in colour 

 and habit very much, and as they are all 

 robust, free-flowering plants, they are valu- 

 able in the autumn garden, giving brilliant 

 effects until cut down by frost. The j 

 variety ignea has broader leaves and 

 larger flowers. 



This Lobelia suffers from a kind of 

 rust, which fastens on the main fleshy roots 

 when the plants are at rest, and rots 

 them. This disease, working as it does 

 at a time when growth is at a standstill, 

 is not perceived in time to be checked, 

 and makes its appearance towards the 

 -end of October or the beginning of 

 November, especially if the weather be 



cold and wet. The plants should then 

 be carefully taken up, reserving as 

 much of the roots as possible, the soil 

 being shaken off, and the roots well 

 washed. The disease will be readily dis- 

 covered by its rusty-looking spots, which 

 must be cut out with a sharp knife, as the 

 leat portion will suffice to destroy the 

 plant. After the plants are examined 

 they may be potted or laid in a frame in 

 some free sandy soil, and very fine speci- 

 mens may be obtained by potting and 

 plunging in a slight bottom-heat, keeping 

 the top quite cool. In about a fortnight 

 they will have made fresh fibre, and all 

 danger will be past. They may then be 

 kept in a cold frame during the winter, 

 and planted out where desired in spring. 

 The bottom-heat, however, is not indis- 

 pensable,; for they will succeed if carefully 

 and sparingly watered after potting. All 

 the plants of the fulgens "group show 

 their great beauty only on peaty or deep 

 leafy and moist soils ; often on loamy 

 soils the growth is short and weak, the 

 flowers poor, and under such conditions 

 they may not be worth growing. 



L. syphilitica. A variable species, not 

 very showy, hardy and robust in free 

 moist soils, it stands our winters well, 

 and is prolific in varieties of violet and 

 purple, varying to rose and white. L. 

 hybrida of gardens appears to be a hybrid 

 between L. splendens and L. syphilitica, 

 though this is uncertain. Its fine rich violet, 

 purple flowers mark it out for special dis- 

 tinction. It is valuable for grouping in 

 the flower garden or mixed border, and is 

 one of the hardiest of the hardy Lobelias. 

 It may be left out during winter with 

 safety, and can be lifted, divided, and 

 replanted in spring. The leaves are 

 almost as broad as those of L. cardinalis, 

 glandular, hairy, and with the long sepals 

 and hairs of L. syphilitica. 



L. Tupa. This is also known as Tupa 

 Fuelli, and although a native of Chili, 

 will be found to stand well in the south 

 protected with sifted ashes, gravel, or 

 other loose material in autumn. It is 

 best, however, against a south wall or 

 in front of a house, and when doing well 

 often attains a height of 6 to 8 ft. ; the 

 flowers large, brick-red, in large racemes, 

 from July to September. L. Cavanilles 

 is said to be amenable to the same treat- 

 ment as above. In deep free soils near 

 the sea L. Tupa is sometimes a very 

 distinct and handsome plant, and is best 

 fitted for borders among large plants or 

 for a warm corner among shrubs. 



L. Erinus. The dwarf section of 

 annual Lobelia is one of the most im- 



