LOBELIA 



HABEBELL OBDEB 



JASIONE 557 



This class of Lobelia grows well in 

 ordinary good garden soil, and makes 

 full masses during the summer. 



L. fulgens. — A handsome Mexican 

 perennial 1-2-J ft. high, with lance-shaped 

 denticulate downy leaves and reddish 

 downy stems. Flowers from May to Sep- 

 tember, intense scarlet, about 1 in. long, 

 downy outside, in terminal, leafy, some- 

 what one-sided racemes. The variety 

 Queen Victoria is a more vigorous plant 

 and larger in all its parts than the type. 

 The leaves are darker in tone and the 

 flowers of a deep scarlet. There is also a 

 form called rosea with bronzy-green foliage 

 and rosy flowers. 



This species is closely related to Ii. 

 carMnalis and is often confused with it. 

 Its cultural treatment is the same. See 

 above. 



L. Gerardi. — A vigorous-growing plant 

 said to be a hybrid between L. fulgens 

 Queen Victoria, and an improved form of 

 L. syphilitica, but not nearly so good as 

 either. The plant is said to reach a height 

 of 4-5 ft. Leaves and stems green and 

 downy. Mowers borne aU up the stem in 

 the axils of the leafy bracts, pale blue. 

 Grown in rich free soil it may attain fine 

 proportions. 



Culture dc. as above for L. card/i/naUs. 



L. hybrida. — This is the result of 

 frequent crossings and selections between 

 cardmaUs, fulgens, splendens, and syphi- 

 litica, and some very fine free-flowering 

 forms have been obtained, aU showing 

 traces of their hybrid origin. The flowers 

 vary in colour from rose, violet, amaranth 

 &c. 



Culture and Propagation. — They may 

 be grown like their parents. 



L. ramosa. — A smooth or downy much 

 branched New Holland annual 8-10 in. 

 high. Lower leaves oblong lance-shaped. 



toothed ; upper ones linear. Flowers 

 intense blue with a white blotch in the 

 throat ; two-lipped, the lower lip having 

 3 broad lobes. There are forms with 

 white and rosy flowers ; similar to some 

 forms of L. Erimis. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species flourishes in ordinary good garden 

 soil with plenty of leaf-mould, and may 

 be raised from seeds sown in gentle heat 

 in March, or in autumn as soon as ripe in 

 a greenhouse or cold frame. The seedlings 

 are pricked off, and by the end of May are 

 fit for the open border. 



L. splendens. — A beautiful Mexican 

 perennial 1-2 ft. high, very near L. fulgens, 

 but quite smooth in all its parts. Leaves 

 lance-shaped denticulate. Flowers from 

 May to September, scarlet, in terminal 

 racemes. There are variations in colour, 

 probably the result of intercrossing. 



Culture iBc. the same as for L. car- 

 dinaUs. 



L. syphilitica. — A native of Carolina, 

 1-2 ft. high, with ovate oblong sessile 

 unequally serrated leaves pointed at both 

 ends. Flowers in autumn, light blue, 

 borne in a long leafy raceme. There 

 are several varieties with pxirple-violet, 

 rose, white and intermediate shades of 

 colour. 



Culture Ac. as above for C. cardinaUs. 

 In order to keep this species true, it should 

 be increased by division and cuttings, as 

 seedlings often exhibit a good deal of varia- 

 tion. 



L. Tupa (Tupa Feuillei). — A Chilian 

 perennial 6-8 ft. high, with thick shrubby 

 stems, and ovate lance-shaped, sessile, 

 decurrent leaves, clothed with a soft 

 whitish down. Flowers in autumn, large, 

 reddish-scarlet, in terminal spiky downy 

 racemes. 



Culture dc. as described under C. 

 cardi/nalis. 



Tribe II. Campanule^e. - 

 rarely united round the style. 



- Corolla regular or slightly irregular. Anthers free or 



JASIONE (Sheep's Scabious). — A 

 genus containing 12 species of annual, 

 biennial, or perennial herbs, more or less 

 prostrate, smooth or hairy. Flowers in 

 terminal slightly stalked or sessile heads, 

 bracts sometimes forming a leafy invo- 

 lucre. CoroUa 3-parted almost to the base, 

 lobes narrow. Stamens free. Anthers 



slightly united below, free above. Capsule 

 inferior. 



Culture and Propagation. — Pretty 

 plants for the rock garden or border in 

 sandy soil. The annual species may be 

 raised by sowing seeds in the open border 

 at the end of March and about September. 

 The perennials by the same means in 



