LOBELIA CARDINALIS, 



INDIAN. FEATHER, OR CARDINAL FLOWER. 



LINN. CLASS, MONODELPHIA ; ORDER, PENTANDRIA. 

 NATURAL ORDER, LOBELIACE.E. 



This variety of the Lobelia is one of the richest of American 

 wild-flowers, glowing as it does in the brightest crimson hues 

 that Nature's pencil has ever portrayed. It is known by the 

 name of Indian Feather, although more generally, perhaps, as 

 the Cardinal Flower ; the latter by no means an appropriate 

 appellation. 



It is erect, simple, pubescent ; leaves lanceolate acuminate, 

 denticulate ; racemes somewhat one-sided, many-flowered ; 

 stamens longer than the corollas. It blooms during the months 

 of July and August, is a perennial plant, found in swamps and 

 wet grounds generally. 



The Lobeliacese are much used in medicine, although the 

 variety described above, less, I believe, than most others. 



