Red and Indefinites 



distribute the seeds far and wide. Is any other species more 

 wholly dependent on birds ? 



Cardinal Flower; Red Lobelia 



(Lobelia cardinalis) 



Flowers Rich vermilion, very rarely rose or white, I to \Yz in. 

 long, numerous, growing in terminal, erect, green-bracted, 

 more or less i -sided racemes. Calyx 5-cleft ; corolla tubular, 

 split down one side, 2-lipped ; the lower lip with 3 spreading 

 lobes, the upper lip 2-lobed, erect ; 5 stamens united into a 

 tube around the style; 2 anthers with hairy tufts. Stem: 2 to 

 4! ft. high, rarely branched. Leaves: Oblong to lance-shaped, 

 slightly toothed, mostly sessile. (Illustration facing p. 369. 



Preferred Habitat Wet or low ground, beside streams, ditches, 

 and meadow runnels. 



Flowering Season J uly September. 



Distribution New Brunswick to the Gulf States, westward to the 

 Northwest Territory and Kansas. 



By the depth and brilliancy of its incomparable hue, the 

 shade with which Vibert delighted to illumine his rich canvases, 

 the color of the famous hat worn by seventy ecclesiastical princes 

 of the Roman Church, but a richer red than the bird which shares 

 the name can boast, the cardinal flower proclaims its title to all 

 beholders. Because its vivid beauty cannot be hid, and few with- 

 stand the temptation to pick it, its extermination goes on as rapidly 

 as its bird namesake's. 



" Hast thou named all the birds without a gun ? 

 Loved the wood rose and left it on its stalk ? " 



The easy cultivation from seed of this peerless wild flower 

 and it is offered in many trade catalogues might save it to those 

 regions in Nature's wide garden that now know it no more. The 

 ranks of floral missionaries need recruits. 



Curious that the great blue lobelia should be the cardinal 

 flower's twin sister! Why this difference of color? Sir John 

 Lubbock proved by tireless experiment that the bees' favorite color 

 is blue, and the shorter-tubed blue lobelia elected to woo them as 

 her benefactors. Whoever has made a study of the ruby-throated 

 humming bird's habits must have noticed how red flowers entice 

 him columbines, painted cups, coral honeysuckle, Oswego tea, 

 trumpet flower, and cardinal in Nature's garden ; cannas, salvia, 

 gladioli, pelargoniums, fuchsias, phloxes, verbenas, and nastur- 

 tiums among others in ours. How the cardinal flower's wonder- 



392 



