Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

Lobelia L. -- Lobelia

Perennial or biennial plants with irregular flowers in terminal bracteate racemes. Corolla sometimes showy, white, pale blue or dark blue, often with white or yellow markings, bilabiate, the 2 lobes of the upper lip erect or projecting forward, the 3 lobes of the lower lip spreading, the corolla split to the base along the upper side between the lobes of the upper lip, the anthers projecting through the cleft; stamens fused to form an upward-arching tube around the style, the anthers usually colored, the lower 2 bearded at the tip; ovary 2-celled. Capsule dehiscing at the top.

Reference: McVaugh, E. 1936. Studies in the taxonomy and distribution of the eastern North American species of Lobelia. Rhodora 38:241-263, 276-298, 305-329, 346-362.

Lead	Characteristic	Go To
1	Flowers large and showy, the corolla 16-30 mm long, dark blue with white stripes on the lower lip.	L. siphilitica
1	Flowers small, not especially showy, the corolla 4-11 mm long, white to lavender or blue, often with a white or yellow center.	Lead 2
2	Cauline leaves linear or narrowly lanceolate, 1-5 mm wide; racemes rather loose and open, the pedicels mostly 4-10 mm long.	L. kalmii
2	Cauline leaves oblanceolate to lanceolate, 5-18 mm wide; racemes rather dense and spikelike, the pedicels 1-4 mm long.	L. spicata

47. Campanulaceae, the Bellflower Family

2. Lobelia L. -- Lobelia

1. Lobelia kalmii L. -- Kalm's lobelia

2. Lobelia siphilitica L. -- Blue cardinal-flower

3. Lobelia spicata Lam. -- Pale-spike lobelia

Return to Family -- Campanulaceae - The Bellflower Family
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