Lobelia. LOBELIACE^. 425 



6. Lobelia inflata, Linn. (Plate LXIII.) Indian Tobacco. 



Stem more or less hairy, paniculately branched above ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, unequally 

 crenate-dentate, a little hairy ; racemes leafy ; calyx-segments as long as the corolla ; capsules 

 ovoid, inflated. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 931 ; Michx. Jl. 2. p. 152 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 448 ; Bigel. 

 fi. Bost. p. 86, and med. hot. I. p.m. t. 19 ; Bart. veg. mat. med. t.l6; Torr.fl. 1. p. 241 ; 

 Beck, lot. p. 215 ; Darlingt. Jl. Cest. p. 155 ; DC. prodr. 7. p. 380. 



Root biennial. Stem 12 - 18 inches high, erect, sometimes very hairy, angular and slightly 

 winged. Leaves 1-3 inches long, sessile, rather acute. Peduncles much shorter than the 

 bracteal leaves. Segments of the calyx linear. Corolla small, pale blue. Capsule 10-nerved, 

 much inflated. Seeds very numerous, oblong, brownish, rough. 



Fields, road-sides, etc.; common. July - September. — This plant is well known for its 

 acrid and emetic qualities, and for being the chief remedy of those empirics called botanic 

 physicians, and root-doctors. It is a most dangerous article, even in the hands of skilful 

 practitioners. The active ingredient is a peculiar principle called lobeline. It has not yet 

 been obtained pure, but seems to be of an alkaline nature. It is soluble in water and in 

 alcohol, but not in ether. (See the Chemical Gazette, for August 1, 1843.) 



7. Lobelia cardinalis, Linn. (Plate LXIV.) Cardinal-jlower . 



Stem pubescent ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute at each end, unequally denticulate-serrate, 

 minutely and roughish pubescent ; raceme somewhat secund ; calyx smoothish, with a very 

 short tube , the segments linear, half as long as the tube of the corolla ; anthers cxserted , the 

 two lower ones densely bearded. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 930 ; Bot. mag. t. 320 ; Michx. fl. 2. 

 p. 151 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 448 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 268 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 85 ; Torr.fl. 1. p. 242 ; 

 Beck, bot. p. 215 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 154 ; DC. prodr. 7. p. 382. 



Perennial. Stem erect, 2-3 feet high, simple. Leaves 3-5 inches long and an inch or 

 more in breadth, with a long tapering base. Raceme 6-12 inches long, usually more or 

 less secund ; the slender pedicels 3-6 lines long, much shorter than the linear-lanceolate 

 bracts. Flowers large and very showy. Corolla bright scarlet ; the tube slender ; segments 

 of the lower lip oblong-lanceolate, of the upper linear-oblong. Filaments red : anthers blue. 

 Stigma 2-lobed, at length protruded. 



Swamps and borders of rivulets ; common. July - October. A superb plant when in full 

 flower. It grows readily when transplanted, even in dry soil. 



Flora 54 



