Lobelia 



( 27 ) 



Lobelia 



stems. The species vary greatly in habit. Some 

 form short', bushy [plants, others assume a climbing 

 habit, whilst another set are prostrate growers. 

 The (lowers are usually showy, and borne from the 

 -axils of the leaves either solitary or in racemes or 

 jiunicles. In colour they arc white, yellow, or reel. 

 FL-W species are cultivated, on account of their 

 dangerous properties. They may be propagated 

 from seeds sown under glass in March, and trans- 

 ferred to the open border in May ; or they may be 

 raised by sowing the seeds in a sunny border of 

 light soil in May, and treated like other annuals. 

 The biennials should be sown in July out of door*, 

 and treated as other biennials. The few perennial 

 species require greenhouse treatment. In all cases 

 a light fibrous loam forms the most suitable soil, 

 and throughout the growing season plenty of water 

 is required. 



Principal Species : 



hispula, 15', Jy., aim.. 



yel. (tti/H .ainbrosiii'f olia) . 

 lateritia (see Blumem- 



bachia laterita). 



Other Species : 



aciinthifolia, 4', sum., 

 ami., yel. 



prostrata, 6', sum., ami.. 



yel. 

 vulcanicn , 2', sum., aim. 



red, yel., wh. stripes. 



alba, 2', sum., ami., wh. 

 bicolor, 1', Jy., aim., hi. 



LOBELIA. 



Description. A large genus of hardy or tender 

 annual or perennial plants (onl. Campanulacese), 

 of which comparatively few are in cultivation. 

 These are adapted for the open garden or for 

 growing under glass. The dwarf varieties derived 

 from Erinus are very useful, but the species of 

 the type of fulgens and cardinalis are suitable for 

 places where taller plants are needed, and where 

 their fine colours will be acceptable. The curious 

 tender Tree Lobelias are cultivated at Kew. Some 

 useful hardy hybrids from syphilitica have been 

 raised within recent years. 



Propagation. By seeds, cuttings, or divisions. 

 'There is a steady improvement in the constancy of 

 the bedding Lobelias from seeds, and seedlings' are 

 most vigorous in their growth. They should be 

 sown in pans of light, sandy soil, about March, in a 

 warm house, covering the seeds slightly. As soon 

 as they can be handled the seedlings must be 

 pricked off into boxes, and kept under glass until 

 bedding-out time. To propagate varieties of 

 approved worth a few plants may either be kept in 

 pots or lifted from the open ground and potted in 

 autumn, and kept during winter in a frame or 

 greenhouse, giving plenty of light and air when 

 the weather is favourable. They should be kept 

 dry to prevent damping-off. Remove to a warm 

 house early in the year, and insert the young 

 growths in light, sandy soil as soon as they are fit 

 to take off. When rooted, harden off gradually. 

 The taller Lobelias are also raised from seeds, 

 sown when ripe or in spring in a frame, and by 

 cul tings of the young shoots under glass, as well as 

 by division. 



Soil. Light soil, with a proportion of leaf mould 

 and sand, is the best for the dwarf, bedding 

 Lobelias, but the taller species can hardly have one 

 too rich. They must also have plenty of water, 

 and early staking. Plants in pots like a free but 

 rich soil. 



Other Cultural Points. The taller half-hardy 

 Lobelias ought either to be well protected with 

 Cocoanut fibre refuse or ashes in winter, or, prefer- 



ably in most districts, lifted and kept in a frame or 

 house where they can be watered carefully. Unless 

 given a little heat in spring these sometimes fail to 

 start. 



ain : E. J. Wullie. I'ulneu, S. ". 



LOBELIA TEXUIOH. 

 Principal Species and Varieties : 



cardinalis, 3', Jy. , almost 

 hdy., sc. ; likes mois- 

 ture at roots in sum. 

 Vars, Crimson Beauty 

 and atrosanguinea. 

 Cardinal Flower. 



Eriuus, G", sum., hlf-hdy. 

 per., bl. ; many vars., 

 single and double, of 

 various shades of 1)1., 

 wh., maroon crim. 

 Good blues are Bar- 

 nard's Perpetual, 

 Brighton Blue, Cobalt 

 Blue, Crybtal Palace, 

 Emperor William, Ox- 

 onian, Eoyal Bliif. 

 Whites compacta alba, 

 White Gem, White 

 Lady. Others Car- 

 mine Gem, car. ; Coli- 

 bri, pk. ; Prinia Donna, 



maroon crim. ; tricolor, 

 wh. eye and car. spot 

 on bl. or pk. ground. 

 Ramosa vars. are taller, 

 and with larger flowers. 



fulgens, 1' to 3', My., 

 sc. ; a splendid plant, 

 with a number of vars. ; 

 alba, wh. ; Firefly, 

 crim. ; Heavenly Blue, 

 bl. ; Lord Ardilaun, 

 crim. ; Queen Victoria, 

 vermilion ; rosea, ro. ; 

 Snowflake, wh. ; and 

 violacea, reel vio. 



syphilitica, 2' to 4', Jy., 

 bl. The hardiest, und 

 the parent of several 

 pretty hybrids. There 

 is also a wh. var. 



tenuior, H', Jy., Aug., 

 grh., bl. (fee figure). 



grandifebra, larger. 



Other Species and Hybrids : 

 amopna, 2' to 4', Jy..hdy. Cavanillesii, 3', Jy., hlf- 



per., bl. hdy., red. 



anceps. Jo., grh. per., bl., coronopifolia, Jy., bl., 



trailer. trailer. 



