Scientific Name | Lobelia cardinalis | USDA PLANTS Symbol | LOCA2 |
Common Name | Cardinalflower | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 34505 |
Family | Campanulaceae (Bellflower) | SEINet Reference |
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Description | Habitat: Wet soils along streams, ponds and shaded shallow water. Plant: Erect perennial 1 to 4 feet tall, unbranched, often hairless stem. Leaves: Numerous stem leaves, alternate, sessile or with short petioles; blades are ovate to oblanceolate, 3 to 5 inches long; margins finely to somewhat coarsely-toothed. Inflorescence: Terminal racemes up to 18 inches long with bright scarlet flowers on pedicels 1/4 to 5/8-inch long, each pedicel with a leaflike bract at the base; 5 linear sepals less than 3/8-inch long; corolla fused into a 3/4-inch long at the base and 2-lipped at the top, with 2 lobes on the upper lip and 3 lobes on the lower. Bloom Period: July to October. References: "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist and SEINet |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024