Lobelia siphilitica

Great blue lobelia

Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Lobelia
Species:
L. siphilitica
Binomial name
Lobelia siphilitica

Lobelia siphilitica, the great blue lobelia,[3] great lobelia,[4] or blue cardinal flower,[5] is a plant species within the family Campanulaceae. It is an herbaceous perennial dicot native to eastern and central Canada and United States. There are two recognized varieties of Lobelia siphilitica, var. siphilitica and var. ludoviciana.[6] Blooming from August to October,[7] it is short-lived, lasting only for a few years.[7]

Although self-compatible, a flower is unable to offer pollen to itself and it must be pollinated by insects, primarily bumblebees.[7] Bees use the lower three fused petals as a landing pad. A bee of correct weight will depress these petals on its way to the flower's nectar, this lowers the stigma wiping it against the bee's back.[8]

  1. ^ Maiz-Tome, L. (2016). "Lobelia siphilitica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T64317288A67729987. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T64317288A67729987.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ NatureServe (2024). "Lobelia siphilitica". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Lobelia siphilitica​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  4. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. ^ "Lobelia siphilitica". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  6. ^ "Lobelia siphilitica (Blue Lobelia): Minnesota Wildflowers". www.minnesotawildflowers.info. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  7. ^ a b c Caruso, C. M. (2006). "Plasticity of inflorescence traits in Lobelia siphilitica (Lobeliaceae) in response to soil water availability". American Journal of Botany. 93 (4): 531–8. doi:10.3732/ajb.93.4.531. PMID 21646213.
  8. ^ "Great Blue Lobelia". www.fs.fed.us. Retrieved 2021-12-23.