Natural History

Cardinal Flower

Classification
Kingdom – Plantae
Division – Magnoliophyta
Class – Magnoliopsida
Order – Campanulales
Family – Campanulaceae (bellflower family)
Genus species – Lobelia cardinalis L.

Etymology
Lobelia named after Matthias de l’Obel (1538-1616), a Flemish botanist; also written as Matthias von Lobel.  Cardinalis is Latin for “of a cardinal” referring to the bright red color.

Leaves
Leaves are oblong, oval or lanceolate in shape.
1 to 8 inches long, 0.25 to 2 inches wide.
Smooth or sparsely hairy.
Pointed tip. 
Leaf edges are scalloped or have sharp teeth.
Upper leaves have no stalks (petioles)
Lower leaves are on stalks up to 0.5 inch long.
Leaves are larger at the base, smaller at the top.

Inflorescence
Each inflorescence contains numerous flowers.
Inflorescence is 4 to 28 inches long.
Each flower is on its own stalk.

Flowers
Flowers are bright red, 1 to 1.5 inches long. 
There are five “petal” like structures within each flower.
These five “petals” are broken down into two upper lobes and three lower lobes.
The three lower lobes are spread and bent downwards.
The two upper lobes are erect, are thinner and more lance-shaped than the lower lobes, and are slightly smaller than the lower lobes.
Five stamens are united in a tube around the style. 
Flowers from July to October.

Fruit
Fruit is a many-seeded capsule.

Stems
Erect, simple or rarely branched.  1 to 5 feet tall.  Leafy.
Smooth or slightly hairy.
Stem is purplish-green, herbaceous, with milky sap.

Habitat
Occur in wet areas with full or partial sunlight, such as streambanks, marshy areas, and moist thickets.

Did you know
This is one of the most striking species of Lobelia.  The deep red flowers are easily noticed near bodies of water and in wet areas.

American Indians used flowers as a love charm.
Leaves, stems, and fruit can be poisonous to livestock.
During 1800s, lobelias were used to treat nervous disorders, convulsions, asthma, and tetanus.

Cardinal flower sketch