334 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



wliich arc here and there grown by the curious, those that arc generally 

 cultivated are not move than about live species and a large number of 

 ihv'w \aiictics and hybrids. These may be divided into tall and dwarf 

 Lul)t'lias, the tall species being American with large flowers, and the 

 dwarfs African with small flowers, the descendants chiefly of L. Erinus, 

 whicli was introduced from the Cape of Good Hope about 1752. We 

 sliall content ourselves with describing these species, with the addition 

 of some of the best garden varieties. 



Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal red). Cardinal Flower, 

 principaispecies. ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^ ^^ ^ f^et high. Leaves lance-shaped, slightly 

 toothed, sometimes tinged w^th red, smooth. Flowers scarlet, in one- 

 sided terminal racemes; July and August. Plate 163. 



L. Erinus (like the plant Erinus). Stems branched, somewhat 

 trailing, about 6 inches high. Leaves oval, or narrow-lance-shaped, 

 toothed, hairy at the base. Flowers bright blue, the throat of the 

 corolla white or yellow ; June to September. Plate 162. 



L. FULGENS (shining). Stems downy, reddish, 1 to 2 feet high. 

 Leaves lance-shaped, slightly toothed, downy, the edges turned back. 

 Flowers also downy on the exterior, brilliant scarlet, 1 inch long, m 

 terminal racemes; May to September. Litroduced from Mexico, 

 1S09. 



L. SPLENDENS (glittering). Stems 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves lance- 

 shapcd, slightly toothed, margins not turned back. Flowers scarlet, 

 shining, in terminal, somewhat one-sided, racemes ; May to September. 

 Introduced from Mexico, 1814. 



L. SUB-NUDA (nearly naked). Leaves radical, heart-shaped in general 

 outline, but cut pinnately, purplish beneath ; forming a rosette. Flowers 

 pale blue, ^-inch across, in loose racemes ; July. Hardy annual. Intro- 

 duced fron\ Mexico, 1887. Dwarf, and specially suitable for rockwork. 



L. SYPHILITICA (useful in syphilis). Stem 1 to 2 feet. Leaves 

 elliptical, pointed at each end, unequally toothed, stalkless. Flowers 

 light blue, corolla angular, the lobes nearly equal; in a long leafy 

 raceme ; August and September. 



L. TuPA (Chilian native name). A herbaceous perennial with annual 

 stems 3 feet high and lanceolate dark green leaves; flowers axillary, 

 tubular, 1 inch long, dark red. Also known as Tiipa Fenilhi. Chili. 

 Hardy in the South of England. 



Garden Varieties ^^ ^^^^^^' ^^^^'^ ^^® ^^^^ ^^^ distinct classes already 



"indicated: the tall -growing offspring of the American 

 species, and the dwarf descendants of the African types. The following 

 selection includes some of the best : — 



