PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA 155 



was purchased of Uw Aborigines. But when once known, it soon shared the v.sunl 

 late of j^urchased Nostrums; and possibly may have been subjected to unmerited 

 neglect. 



4. L. ?*ft.ata, L. Stem erect, somewhat paniculately branched, hir- 

 sute ; leaves sessile, lance-ovate, crenate-dentate, pilose ; racemes leafy ; 

 capsules inflated. Beck, Bot. p. 215. 



Inflated Lobelia. Vulgo — Eye-bright. Indian Tobnrco. 



Lactescent. Root biennial, Muhl Eat. (perennial, Ell. annual, Willd. Torr. 

 Bigei)' Stem 9 to 18 inches high] sometimes alate-an.Liilar by the decurrence of 

 the leaves, often very hairy ; branches axillary. Leaves I to 2 or 3 inches long, 

 and half an inch to an inch and half wide, more or less ovate, rather acute, une- 

 qually crenate or sinuate-dentate, pilose. Peduncles axillary, one fourth to half an 

 inch 1 >n:r, roughish pubescent. Corolla pale blue, small. Capsule ovoid, or oval, 

 thin ami membranaceous, 10-nerved, reticulatcly veined, smoothish. Seeds nu- 

 merous, minute, elliptic-oblong, subdiaphanous, rough with ferruginous, reticula- 

 ted ridges, under a lens. 



Bab. Piisturcs ; roadsides, fcc. frequent. Fl. July— Sept. FY. Aug.- Octo. 



Obs. This is an acrid plant, possessing active emetic, cathartic, and narcot- 

 ic properties J and may be used f r good or for evil, according to the degree of 

 ikill ami discretion with which it is employed. It is said to be a prominent article 

 in the Materia Medica of a modern race of Empirics, who, in some districts of our 

 country, have attained a notoriety, and consequence, which is not very credita- 

 ble to th| discernment of the communities in which they flourish. The indiscrim- 

 inate U8( of any active medicine, is as dangerous as it is preposterous. "Quern- 

 curar to^aespecie de enfermos y dc enfermedades con On mismo raedicamento, no 

 es medicjna, sino 1j que Hainan charlataneria, no soloridicula en quien la profesa, 

 lino dan ,sa para quien la usa." 



5. L. (ahihnalis, L. Stem erect, simple, pubescent; leaves subses- 

 sile, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, unequally denticulate, minutely 

 roughisli-pubescent ; raceme somewhat secund, and leafy below ; sta- 

 mens longer than the corolla. Beck, Bot. p. 215. 



Cardinal Lobelia. Vulgb— Cardinal Flower. 



Root perennial. Stem 2 to3 feet high, simple, butoften growing in bunches, an- 

 gular, generally hirsutely pubescent (very smooth, Torr.). Leaves 3 to 6 inches 

 long, and 1 to 2 inches wide, tapering at base almost to a petiole, sinuate-denticu- 

 late, or erosely serrate -dentate, thickly sprinkled with short bristly hairs. Raceme 

 6 to 12 or 15 inches long, many-flowered. Flotcers large, on hirsute pedicels half 

 an inch t<, three quarters in length ; brads linear-lanceolate, glandular-denticulate, 

 longer than the pedicels. Calyx with a short obtusely turbinate lube, and long; 

 subulate-linear erect sparingly ciliate segments. Corolla bright crimson ; the tube 

 about an Inch long ; the 3 lobes of the lower lip lance-ot >long, acuminate, the two 

 lobes of the upper lip much narrower, linear oblong. Stamens one third longer 

 than the tube of the corolla ; filaments red, partially separated below, flat ; anthers 

 greyish blue, connate, cucullate, with a dense tuft of white hairs on the lower side 

 •f the orifice at apex. Stigma at first within the tube of the anthers, and girt with 

 a dense tuft of hairs,— at length protruded, 2-lobed, and naked. Capsule half su- 

 perior, o*oid, acuminate. Seeds very numerous, minute, oblong, scabrous, tawny, 

 ar ferruginous* 4. 



M*b. Stamps, and margins of rivulets ; frequent. Fl. July— Oct.— /V. Sept.-Oct. 



