HEATH FAMxLT. 



141 ' 112 ^ 



acrid and offensive a weed as this Lobelia. Several other species are 

 common, two of which are admired for the beauty of their blue and red 

 floT>-ers. — particularly the crimson Cardinal-flower, (L. cardina'lis, L.) ; 

 which is sometimes' used by the "Indian doctors" under the name ot 

 '• iJ^g/;-6e/2fi,'' probably to distinguish it from Low-belia.'' It is one 

 of the most showy of our wild flowers, bears transplanting to the garden, 

 and is worthy of ' being cultivated. A variety is sometunes met with in 

 which the flowers are aU white. 



Order XLIL EEICA'CE^, (Heath Family.) 



Sh}-vhs or sometimes herbs with mostly alternate leaves without stipules, and regular or 

 nearly regular ^oicers. Corolla 4-5-lobed (rarely 4-5-petalled). Staviens as many or 



Fig. 141. A branch of Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata) with fruit and flowers. 142. An 

 enlarged flower showing its corolla split down on one side. 143. The same with calyx and 

 corolla remoA-ed, exposing the stamens united by both filaments and anthers. 



