LOBELIACEAE 
153 
to 3.7 m. long, or sometimes an erect thicket}' - shrub 1.2 to 1.8 m. high; 
uppermost as well as lower leaves distinct, often very narrow; spikes 
borne in a panicle.—Mesas and valleys, S. Cal. 
DIPSACEAE. TEASEL FAMILY 
Herbs with opposite leaves. Flowers in dense heads or short spikes. 
Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary. Corolla 4 or 5-lobed, borne on the calyx. 
Stamens 4 (or 2 by abortion). Ovary 1-celled; style filiform. Fruit an 
achene, crowned with the persistent calyx.—Species about 150, especially 
in the Mediterranean region and the Orient. 
1. DIPSACUS L. 
Biennial. Cauline leaves united at base. Flowers pinkish-white, the 
short spike surrounded by an involucre of elongated bracts much sur¬ 
passing the pointed bracts subtending the flowers. Bracts in fruit very 
rigid and spine-like. Calyx-limb cup-shaped, 4-toothed. Corolla 4-lobed. 
Achene surrounded by a 4 to 8-ribbed involucel. (Greek name of the 
Teasel.) 
1. D. fullonun L. Fuller’s Teasel. Stems erect, stout, coarse, prickly, 
8 to 14 dm. high.—Abundant in low waste lands; nat. from Eur. 
LOBELIACEAE. LOBELIA FAMILY 
Herbs with alternate entire leaves and complete flowers in racemes. 
Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary, the free portion divided into 5 distinct 
lobes. Corolla 2-lipped with 2 lobes in upper lip and 3 in lower. Stamens 
5; anthers and filaments united into a tube about the single style. Ovary 
2-celled, beconr'ng a 1 or 2-celled capsule with many seeds.—About 500 
species, especially in the tropics. 
1. DOWNINGIA Torr. 
Dwarf herbs. Calyx-tube long and stalk-like. Corolla-tube short, its 
limb ample. (A. J. Downing, an American horticulturist.) 
Lower lip of the corolla concave ; stamen-column long-exserted, the anther-tube 
much incurved.1. D. elegans. 
Lower lip of the corolla plane, forming a platform ; stamen-column little or not at 
all exserted ; anther-tube straight or only slightly curved. 
Sinuses of corolla not cut below platform.2. D. pulchella. 
Sinuses of corolla cut below platform. 
Lobes of upper lip of corolla coiled into a ring; calyx-lobes ascending. 
3. D. ornatissima. 
Lobes of upper lip of corolla not coiled; calyx-lobes rotate..4. D. concolor. 
1. D. elegans (Lindl.) Torr. Stem 9.6 to 29 cm. high; leaves 1.2 to 
1.8 cm. long; corolla light blue, veiny, its tube short-campanulate: lower 
lip 3-lobed at apex.—Margins of vernal pools. 
2. D. pulchella Torr. Erect or ascending, 5 to 24 cm. high; leaves 1.2 
cm. long; corolla deep bright blue, its tube 2 mm. long; lower lip 1.2 cm. 
broad, bearing 2 obovate yellow spots.—Low plains and salt marshes. 
3. D. ornatissima Greene. Simple or branched from the base, 5 to 15 
cm. high; leaves linear; corolla very light blue, lower lip bearing 2 yel¬ 
low spots; stamen-column slightly exserted.—Low spots in the plains. 
