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Photographer: Matthew L. Wagner
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Family Lobeliaceae
Lobelia cardinalis L. var. cardinalis
cardinal-flower
Lobelia: after Matthias de l'Obel (1538-1616), a Flemish botanist; also written as Matthias von Lobel
cardinalis: Latin for "of a cardinal" referring to bright red color
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 2'-5' tall forb, usually unbranched |
| Flower: | red, 5-parted, 1 1/2" long, irregularly-shaped, top lip 2-parted, lower lip 3-parted; inflorescence a 4"-16" spike-like cluster (raceme) with flowers on hairy stalks; blooms July-Sept. |
| Leaf: | thin, lance-like to oblong, toothed; lower leaves on a short stalk, upper leaves stalkless |
| Habitat: | full to partial sun; moist to wet; meadows, woods, streambanks; in sandy, loamy soil |
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