88 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS, 
' probably without a salary, and with but few official duties. 
In 1576 he published his “ Observationes,” wherein may 
be found the sources of much of the information embodied 
in Parkinson’s “Theatram Botanicum” and other works 
of the time that now surprise us by their erudition, their 
comprehensiveness, and the delightful accuracy of their 
engravings. 
The lobelias are widely scattered, but there are not 
many of them. There are two British species, namely, 
LL. wrens, a very rare plant, found on heaths near Axmin- 
ster, and L. Dortmanna, a rather showy water-plant with 
blue flowers. The “erinus” section are natives of the 
Cape of Good Hope, and comprise J. 4icolor and L. cain- 
panulata, from which many of the garden varieties have 
been bred. The splendid plants of the “herbaceous ” 
section, comprising L. cardinalis, L. splendens, and L. 
fulgens, are natives of Mexico. 
