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Photographer: Dan Tenaglia
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Family Lobeliaceae
Lobelia siphilitica L. var. siphilitica
great blue lobelia
Lobelia: after Matthias de l'Obel (1538-1616), a Flemish botanist; also written as Matthias von Lobel
siphilitica: because once thought to cure syphillis
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 1'-4' tall forb, slightly hairy |
| Flower: | blue, 5-parted, 3/4"-1" long, irregularly shaped, top lip 2-parted, lower lip 3-parted; inflorescence a 4"-12" crowded, spike-like cluster (raceme) of more than 20 stalked flowers; blooms Aug.-Sept. |
| Leaf: | thin, mostly oblong, narrowing towards the stalkless base, mostly more than 3/4" wide |
| Habitat: | full to partial sun; wet to moist; meadows, streambanks, shores; in sandy, loamy soil |
| (Glossary) |
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