LOBELIA CCELESTIS. 
(Heavenly- blue Lobelia.) 
Class. Order. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA, 
Natural Order. 
LOBELIACE^. 
(Lobeliads, Veg. King.) 
Generic CnAR&CT^n.— Magazine of Botany, v. xv., 
t.7. 
Specific Character.— a herbaceous perennial. 
Stems slender. Leaves sessile, scabrous, decurrent. 
Peduncles long, hairy. Flowers axillary, solitary, of a 
rich azure-blue, disposed in a long leafy terminal 
raceme. Calyx five- toothed, somewhat reflexed. Co- 
rolla angular, segments nearly equal. Keel ciliated. 
Authorities and Synonymes. — Lobelia Linnceus ; 
L. coelestis Don's System, 3. 706 ; L. crispa Graham. 
This very pretty and dwarf-habited plant is a native of North America, and has 
been in our collections since 1831 ; its long racemes of bright cserulean flowers, 
the freedom with which they are produced, and the height of the plant seldom 
exceeding nine inches, render it an excellent subject for bedding out in the flower, 
garden ; and, being an herbaceous plant, and nearly hardy, it will when better known 
be considered quite an acquisition. 
In many particulars it resembles Lobelia syphilitica, but is decidedly a distinct 
species. Our drawing was made from a specimen which flowered in the nursery of 
Messrs. Knight and Perry, King’s Road, Chelsea, in October 1847. 
This species of Lobelia grows best in light rich soil, or peat and sand, and is 
easily increased both by cuttings and division of the roots. 
Being a plant of delicate growth, care must be used in watering whilst the 
plants are small, but when large and in vigorous growth a liberal supply may be 
given. 
For the derivation of the generic name and general treatment of Lobeliaceous 
plants, see “ Mag. Bot.” t. vii. of the present volume. 
