OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS, 
67 
and stand erect ; the two lower segments forming an arch over the anthers, which are crowned with a fine 
fringe. The upper part of the style has also a hairy fringe ; but when the stigma protrudes beyond the anthers, 
it is quite smooth, and appears at if inserted obliquely by a joint into the hairy style. It is a native of the Cape 
of Good Hope, whence it was introduced in 1774. It requires only a slight protection during winter, and 
produces so many offsets from the root, as soon to fill any bed that it may be planted in. 
17.— LOBELIA VARIIFOLIA, Sims. THE VARIOUS-LEAVED LOBELIA. 
Synonyme. — Parastranthus variifolia, Dee. I completely entire ; upper ones pinnatifidly dentate. Flowers terminal, 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag. 1 . 1692. often solitary, inverted. 
Specific Character. — Stem erect. Leaves linear ; lower ones I 
Description, &c. — This species bears a great resemblance to the last, but it differs in its very sintrular leaves; 
in the stigma being three-cleft instead of two-cleft ; and in the two lower segments of the corolla not being 
united over the stamens. The species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, whence it was introduced 
about 1810. 
18.— LOBELIA UNIDENTATA, Lin. THE SINGLE-TOOTHED LOBELIA. 
Synonymes. — L. bidentata, Z)orew ; Parastranthus unidentata, Dec. I Specific Character. — Stem slightly decumbent at the base. I.eaves 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 1484 ; and our fiy. 8, in Plate 67. I linear, entire, or with one tooth. Flowers inverted. 
Description, &c. — This is the last of the three species of Lobelia which have their flowers inverted ; that 
is, which have their upper lip in three segments, and their lower lip in two ; while all the common species of 
Lobelia have the upper lip in two segments, and the lower one in three. On this account. Professor De Candolle 
has placed these three species of Lobelia in a new genus, which he has called Parastranthus, and which means 
literally, with inverted flowers. The present species is extremely pretty. In its normal habit, the flowers are 
of a dark violet, and it looks exactly like one of the common violets of our gardens ; but occasionally, when raised 
from seed, this Lobelia varies in colour to a pale blue, or almost to white, and in either state it makes a remark- 
ably pretty flower for filling one of the beds of a symmetrical flower-garden. It is a native of the Cape of Good 
Hope, whence it was introduced in 1794. It continues producing a succession of blossoms all the summer, and 
it is propagated by seeds, which it produces in great abundance, or by cuttings, which are generally placed a 
good many together in one pot, and kept in a greenhouse or cold pit during the winter. 
OTHER SPECIES OF LOBELIA. 
These are very numerous ; but nearly all the other perennial species are greenhouse plants, which will not bear 
the winter in the open ground; indeed, all the pretty little Lobelias, which are natives of the Cape of Good Hope, 
will not endure either the wet or cold of an English winter without protection, unless they are planted in a very 
dry soil ; and, when this is the case, they should be supplied with water abundantly when they are near 
flowering. 
