Home › L › Lobelia (Named after Matthias de L'Obel)

Lobelia (Named after Matthias de L'Obel)

(named after Matthias de L'Obel, 1533-1616, a botanist, and physician to James I.). SYN. Rapuntium. Including Monopsis, Rhynchopetalum, Tupa, &c. ORD. Campanulaceae. A genus comprising about 200 species of greenhouse or hardy, annual or perennial, herbs and sub-shrubs, rarely shrubs, widely distributed over the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the globe, especially in America, but less abundantly found in Northern Europe and Asia. Flowers racemose; corolla irregular, tubular; tube cleft on the upper side, thickened or ventricose at the base; limb five-parted, bilabiate, the two segments of the upper lip linear-lanceolate, the lower lip trifid and pendulous; stamens epipetalous, anthers connate. Leaves alternate, usually sessile. Lobelias rank amongst the most popular and useful of garden plants. The dwarf-growing forms are indispensable in bedding arrangements, as their place could not be taken with equally good results by any other subjects in cultivation. Blue (a colour somewhat rare amongst bedding plants) is that which predominates in Lobelias; there are also varieties with pure white, white and blue, pink and white, and wholly pink flowers. Many of the tall-growing herbaceous perennial species are splendid summer and autumn-flowering plants, equally well suited for mixed borders or for grouping in flower beds. Various colours are represented, none being more beautiful and attractive than the species or varieties with rich deep crimson flowers. Propagation. This may readily be effected either by seeds, by cuttings, or by divisions of the plants. Named or selected varieties should be propagated by one of the latter methods, as seedlings rarely perpetuate the character of the parent, except in the case of species. For bedding purposes, where the habit of Lobelias is not always of material importance, an easy plan of securing an annual stock of plants is to sow some seeds, about March, in well-drained pans of light soil, covering them very lightly on account of their small size, and placing the pans in a propagating house. The seedlings, when large enough, should be pricked off into other pans or boxes, and kept under glass until nearly bedding time in May. Stock plants of choice varieties for propagating should either be grown in pots, or be lifted from the open ground early in autumn, and preserved in a light greenhouse or frame through the winter, where plenty of air may be admitted on favourable occasions. Early in the year, the plants should be transferred to a propagating house, and, so soon as young growths can be obtained, the cuttings must be inserted in very light sandy soil. A large quantity may thus be obtained in a short time from a few stock plants, and the habit of all will be uniform afterwards, when growing in the open air. The tall species of Lobelia may also be raised from seeds. If these are sown when ripe, and placed in a cool frame, stronger plants may be secured for the following year than when sowing is deferred till spring. Cuttings of young shoots root readily in spring, and division of the plants at the same season is also a ready method for increasing the stock, either of species or varieties.

Cultivation. Dwarf tender forms of Lobelia prefer a rather light soil, wherein plenty of leaf mould has been incorporated. When planted in bedding arrangements, they should be kept well watered throughout the summer, in order to insure a continuous flowering habit. From 4in. to 6in. apart is about the proper distance, but seedling plants will usually cover more space than others obtained from cuttings. Half-hardy perennial species should be afforded a deep rich soil, as they well repay for liberal treatment by producing much more vigorous main flower-stems, and stronger side shoots, which also bear flowers in the autumn. Plenty of water will prove beneficial, and protection from rough wind must be provided by tying each plant to a suitable stake. When cut down by frosts, the roots may be lifted and stored in a cool frame all the winter, or they may be covered with a good depth of ashes or cocoa-nut fibre, and allowed to remain outside. The former plan is the safest, but care must be taken not to allow the roots to become too dry. Lobelias are also well adapted for culture in pots, for greenhouse decoration. They should be placed in a rich open soil, and be provided with manure water when beginning to flower. L. amoena (pleasing). fl. pale blue; spikes secund, many-flowered. July and August. l. oblong-lanceolate, serrated, usually glabrous, 6in. to 8in. long, and 1in. broad. h. 1ft. to 4ft. North America, 1812. Hardy perennial. L. colorata (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 180) is a garden hybrid of this species. L. anceps (two-edged). fl. blue, with a white or yellowish throat; pedicels axillary, shorter than the bracts, which are linear, entire. June. l. obovate, toothed, superior ones dissimilar. Stems decumbent. Cape of Good Hope, 1820. Greenhouse herbaceous perennial. SYNS. L. decumbens (B. M. 2277), L. rhizophyta (B. M. 2519).

L. cardinalis (cardinal).* Cardinal Flower. fl. scarlet; racemes terminal, unilateral, leafy. July and August. l. oblong-lanceolate, eartilaginously denticulated, and, as well as the stems, glabrous. h. 1ft. to 2ft. North America, 1626. A very stately and handsome herbaceous perennial. It is not perfectly hardy in our climate, but, if planted in spring, in deep rich loam, and in a situation fully exposed to the sun, it will flower well through-out the autumn, and, with protection, may be left in the ground all the winter. (B. M. 320.) L. Cavanillesii (Cavanille's). A synonym of L. laxiflora angustifolia. L. coronopifolia (Coronopus-leaved). fl. of a beautiful Gentianalike blue; peduncles long, few-flowered. July and August. l. lanceolate, with three or more teeth on each side. Stem procumbent. Cape of Good Hope, 1752. Greenhouse herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 644.) L. c. caerulea (blue). fl. purplish-blue, large, and drooping; peduncles three or four-flowered. Cape of Good Hope, 1824. (B. M. 2701.) L. decumbens (decumbent). A synonym of L. anceps.

L. Erinus (Erinus).* fl. blue, with a white or yellowish throat; peduncles axillary, solitary, much longer than the leaves. Summer. l. hairy at the base, toothed, lower ones obovate, petiolate; upper ones almost sessile, narrow-lanceolate. h. 6in. Cape of Good Hope, 1752. Greenhouse herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 901.) The varieties of this popular species are very numerous, and are separated into five sections, viz. : 1, compacta, neat and compact-growing, having both blue and white-flowered forms; 2, Paxtoniana, much after the style of the speciosa group; 3, pumila, the dwarfest of all, including the forms known as grandiflora and magnifica; 4, ramosoides, rather tall-growing, attaining from 6in. to 9in. in height; 5, speciosa, a popular section, not quite so compact-growing as some of the others. There are double-flowered forms, but they are not extensively cultivated, on account of their uncertainty in growing and flowering satisfactorily. L. Feuillei (Feuille's). A synonym of L. Tupa.

L. fulgens (shining).* fl. of a splendid scarlet colour, about 1in. long, downy outside; racemes terminal, leafy, somewhat secund. May to September. l. lanceolate, denticulated, with revolute margins, downy, as well as the stems, which are reddish. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Mexico, &c., 1809. A very handsome greenhouse or half-hardy herbaceous species, resembling L. cardinalis, but more downy; it requires similar treatment. (A. B. R. 659.) SYN. L. ramosa (B. ii. 93).

L. glandulosa (glandular). fl. blue; raceme or spike loosely few or many-flowered, secund. September. l. thick and smooth, bright green, lanceolate or linear, callous or glandular-denticulate. h. 1ft. to 4ft. South United States, 1840. Hardy herbaceous perennial.

L. glandulosa (glandular), of Lindley. A synonym of L. syphilitica. L. gracilis (slender). fl. deep blue; upper lip of corolla densely bearded; racemes rather secund. Summer. l., lower ones nearly ovate, deeply pinnatifid; superior ones linear-lanceolate, nearly entire. h. 2ft. New South Wales, 1801. Hardy annual. (A. B. R. 3406; B. M. 741.) L. g. major (greater). A variety with larger flowers and more deeply toothed leaves. SYN. L. trigonocaulis. (B. M. 5088.) L. heterophylla (variable-leaved), of Hooker. A synonym of L. tenuior. L. hypocrateriformis (salver-shaped). A synonym of Isotoma Brounii. L. ilicifolia (Ilex-leaved). fl. pink; corolla resupinate; pedicels axillary, solitary, much longer than the leaves. May to September. l. ovate-lanceolate, deeply and remotely toothed, glabrous. Barren stems prostrate, floriferous ones erect. h. 3in. to 6in. Cape of Good Hope, 1815. Greenhouse herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 1896.) L. Kalmii (Kalm's). fl. blue; racemes loose, and mostly few-flowered, often leafy at base or panicled; pedicels equalling or longer than the flowers. July. l., radical and lowest cauline ones oblanceolate or spathulate; upper ones linear, 1in. to 2in. long. h. 1ft. North America, 1820. Hardy herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 2238.) L. Kraussii (Krauss's). fl., corolla red, 1in. long, marcescent; tube compressed, spreading a little; calyx red, glabrous, persistent; peduncles 3in. long, axillary, solitary, numerous towards the top of the stem. January and February. l. 4 1/2in. long, 3/4in. broad, numerous, scattered, lanceolate, glabrous, shining green above, paler below, sharply serrated. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Dominica, 1828. Greenhouse herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 3012.) L. laxiflora (loose-flowered). fl. red, downy; tube nearly 1in. long; pedicels solitary, axillary, longer than the leaves, the whole forming a leafy raceme. June and July. l. ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, serrated, sessile. h. 3ft. Mexico, Central America, 1825. Greenhouse herbaceous perennial. (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 389, under name of Siphocampylus bicolor.) L. l. angustifolia (narrow-leaved) has narrower leaves and yellow flowers. (B. M. 3600, under name of L. Cavanillesii.) L. longiflora (long-flowered). A synonym of Isotoma longiflora. L. pedunculata (stalked). A synonym of L. tomentosa. L. polyphylla (many-leaved). fl. solitary, axillary, often terminated with a crown of barren leaves; racemes terminal; corolla deep-blackish or blood-purple, curved. September. l. erecto-patent, coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, acute, scarcely petiolate, of a bluish-green, and paler beneath, reticulated with veins, the sides often turned upwards. h. 4ft. Chili, 1835. Hardy herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 3550.) L. puberula (puberulous). fl. blue, partly white, sometimes varying to white, mostly crowded, becoming horizontal on the short appressed pedicels. Summer. l. from ovate to oblong, mostly obtuse, pale or slightly hoary. h. 2ft. North America. Plant soft, pubescent with very short and fine hairiness. Hardy herbaceous perennial.

L. p. glabella (smoothish). A greener form, with slender, more glabrous, and usually more naked, virgate spike, glabrous calyx, &c., and flowers more secund. (B. M. 3292.) L. pyramidalis (pyramidal). fl., corolla purplish-violet; anthers deep blue, hairy; racemes panicled, leafy. Autumn. l. lanceolate, long-acuminated, serrated; upper ones linear, attenuated. Stem pyramidally branched. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Nepaul, 1822. Hardy herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 2387.) L. ramosa (branched). A synonym of L. fulgens.

L. rhizophyta (creeping). A synonym of L. anceps.

L. robusta (thick-stemmed). fl. large, very numerous; corolla deep dull purple, falcate before the separation of the segments; raceme terminal, gradually elongated. August. l. numerous, scattered, crowded towards the apex, falling off below, obovate-lanceolate, acuminate, attenuated at base. Stem stout, erect, almost woody. h. 3ft. Hayti, 1830. Stove evergreen. (B. M. 3138.) L. senecioides (Senecio-like). A synonym of Isotoma axillaris. L. Speculum (conspicuous). fl. deep blue, with yellow anthers; peduncles very long, solitary, axillary, one-flowered, naked. Summer. l. linear-lanceolate, irregularly toothed or entire, alternate. Cape of Good Hope, 1812. Plant prostrate. Greenhouse annual. SYN. Monopsis conspicua. (A. B. R. 664; B. M. 1499.) L. splendens (splendid).* fl. scarlet, glabrous, very like those of L. cardinalis and L. fulgens; racemes terminal, somewhat secund. May to September. l. lanceolate, denticulated, with flat margins. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Mexico, &c., 1814. Half-hardy herbaceous perennial. There is a variety, atrosanguinea, figured in B. M. 4002.

L. syphilitica (syphilitic).* fl. light blue, axillary, solitary, forming altogether a long, leafy raceme; corolla angular, with nearly equal segments. Autumn. l. ovate-oblong, acuminated at both ends, unequally serrated, sessile. h. 1ft. to 2ft. North America, 1665. Hardy herbaceous perennial. There are numerous hybrids between this species and some of the scarlet-flowered ones. (B. R. xxxii. 6, under name of L. glandulosa.) L. tenuior (slender). fl. large, deep blue, with a white eye, the calyx-tube narrow; middle lobe of corolla broadly obovate; lateral ones also obovate, the two upper much smaller, incurved. September. l. radical ones small, obovate, deeply toothed; cauline ones linear, lower ones pinnatifid, upper ones entire or toothed. Stems often 1ft. or more high, one or few-flowered. West Australia. Greenhouse herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 3784 and P. M. B. vi. 197, under name of L. heterophylla.) L. thapsoidea (Mullein-like). fl. large, densely imbricated; corolla rose-purple, hairy or silky; raceme large, pyramidal; pedicels (especially the lower ones) reflexed when in flower. June. l. broadly lanceolate, attenuated below; lower ones 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, all downy, dentato-ciliate. Stem erect, leafy, simple. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Organ Mountains, 1843. Greenhouse herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 4150.) L. tomentosa (tomentose). fl. blue, with a purple tube, small; peduncles elongated, growing from the sides of the branches. October. l. petiolate, recurved, pinnatifid; pinnae bifurcate, tomentose. h. 1ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1819. Greenhouse herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 2251, under name of L. pedunculata.) L. trigonocaulis (three-angled-stemmed). A synonym of L. gracilis major. L. Tupa (Tupa). fl. corolla of a reddish-scarlet colour, large, and, as well as the peduncles and calyces, downy; racemes terminal, spicate. Autumn. l. ovate-lanceolate, sessile, decurrent, clothed with soft, whitish down. Stem erect, thick, suffruticose at the base, simple, leafy. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Chili, 1824. Half-hardy perennial, and said to be a very poisonous species. SYNS. L. Feuillei and Tupa Feuillei. (B. M. 2550.) Varieties. In the bedding or dwarf section of Lobelias there are numerous named varieties, which, however, are frequently so near alike in colour as to be readily used as substitutes one for another. L. speciosa is an old type still largely grown, as it proves very useful for trailing over vases, &c. L. pumila magnifica is one of the very best blue varieties for any purpose. Cuttings must be inserted for preserving the compact habit of any named sort; seedlings will not perpetuate such characteristics. A list of other varieties is subjoined.

BLUE BEAUTY, deep blue, with small white eye, free-growing, and of good habit; FINSBURY PARK BLUE, bright blue self-coloured flowers, very free; LUSTROUS, rich blue, fine white eye; OMEN, pink, small white eye, dwarf, and very distinct; PRINCESS OF WALES, pure white, very dwarf and floriferous; PUMILA GRANDIFLORA FLORE-PLENO, dark blue, a double-flowered from, sometimes grown, but does not always succeed well; PUMILA INGRAMI, white, slightly tinged with blue, of trailing habit; PUMILA MAGNIFICA, deep indigo-blue, small white eye, compact and floriferous habit throughout the season; SNOWBALL, white, dwarf compact habit, good; SWANLEY BLUE, light blue, rather vigorous habit.